Scientists recommend studies into ecological impacts of exotic plants in wake of yet another Nipah outbreak

While plant import is being regulated in the country, the need for assessing the interaction of imported plants with indigenous species assumes importance

As Kerala hopes to have seen the end of a third spell of Nipah outbreak in three years, scientists have recommended studies into the ecological impacts of exotic plants in wake of emerging zoonoses. While plant import is being regulated in the country with measures including plant quarantine, the need for assessing the interaction of imported plants with indigenous species assumes importance at a time when the former found a good market due to monetary benefits. Ecological physicist R. Jaishanker, chairperson of the School of Informatics, Digital University of Kerala (DUK), said much effort was invested in containing zoonotic diseases, but not enough on analysing the root cause.