Nipah Virus

Nipah virus (NiV) is a single-stranded, negative-sense, RNA virus belonging to Paramyxoviridae family and the relatively new genus Henipavirus . It is an emerging bat borne pathogen. The Pteropus genus of fruit bats are the natural hosts of NiV. Numerous outbreaks have been reported in regions where these bat populations are prevalent, particularly in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Human may acquire the virus either via consumption of contaminated food, contact with domestic animals, or direct exposure to secretions from NiV-infected bats. Human infection typically manifests after a 4- to 14-day incubation period and may resulted in a potentially life-threatening neurological and/or respiratory diseases. NiV is a biosafety level-4 pathogen posing a significant and persistent global health issue due to lack of effective treatment and vaccination.