Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread between animals and people. NiV was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of disease in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore, which resulted in nearly 300 human cases and more than 100 deaths. The animal host reservoir for NiV is the fruit bat (genus Pteropus), also known as the flying fox. NiV is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus.
Infection with NiV is associated with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and can cause mild to severe illness and even death. Outbreaks occur almost annually in parts of Asia, primarily Bangladesh and India. NiV can spread from person-to-person in these outbreaks, raising concerns about the potential for NiV to cause a global pandemic.
Nipah virus infection can be prevented by avoiding exposure to sick pigs and bats in areas where the virus is present, and not drinking raw date palm sap which can be contaminated by an infected bat. During an outbreak, standard infection control practices can help prevent person-to-person spread in hospital settings.
