Bangkok, Jan. 27 -- Thai authorities on January 26 said that several species of fruit bats in the country carry highly virulent strains of Nipah virus, but the greater threat comes from infected individuals arriving from countries currently experiencing outbreaks.

Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn, deputy permanent secretary for health, told reporters the Nipah virus was found in fruit bats in Thailand, but at a lower viral density than in countries where there were outbreaks of the disease.

Officials aimed to prevent Nipah virus outbreaks by banning pig farms from areas where it occurred in bats. This prevented the bats transmitting the virus via pigs to humans.

There has not been a confirmed case in Thailand. There are concerns in other count...