what is nipah virus

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread between animals and people. The animal host reservoir for NiV is the fruit bat, also known as the flying fox. NiV was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of disease in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore. The virus is also known to cause illness in pigs and people. 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 be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. The virus can survive in substances that are rich in sugar, such as in fruit pulp or date palm sap, and consumption of contaminated fruit can lead to infection. NiV research requires a ‘One Health approach,’ in which multiple sectors coordinate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. NiV 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.