NIPAH VIRUS INFECTIONS: CURRENT INSIGHTS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Nipah virus (NiV) is an extremely contagious zoonotic type of virus that has become one of the biggest issues of health protection in Asia. NiV belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae and the genus Henipavirus and was identified in 1998 as one of the biggest epidemics among Malaysian pig farmers. The virus has replicate outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia and above all, in Bangladesh and India, where the case-fatality reaches very high levels. The main natural reservoirs of the virus are fruit bats belonging to genus Pteropus and the virus can be transmitted either by direct contact with infected animals or by consuming tainted food or transmission among humans. The clinical manifestation of Nipah virus infection include highly febrile condition with a sudden onset or acute encephalitis or respiratory failure. The capability of the virus to overcome the species barrier, its high pathogenicity and the absence of any effective form of treatment or vaccine make the virus to reach Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) pathogen. Besides health hazards, Nipah epidemics have produced high socio-economic cost such as mass slaughter of pigs in Malaysia and interference with agriculture trade. The recurring epidemics advocate the need to enhance surveillance, adopt a One Health approach and come up with the preventive measures including vaccines, antiviral drug development and community awareness strategies. This descriptive review has provided information about the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, outbreak history and strategies to prevent Nipah virus.