Five things you need to know about Nipah virus

The Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen that can be transmitted from animals to humans through contaminated food or via direct human-to-human contact. In people, infection can cause a wide range of illness, from asymptomatic cases to acute respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also induce severe disease in livestock, such as pigs, resulting in substantial economic losses for the agricultural sector. Here are five things you need to know about the Nipah virus.

1. Human infection can lead to a wide spectrum of clinical conditions, ranging from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to severe acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.

2. The estimated case fatality rate is between 40 and 75 percent. This figure, however, can vary significantly across different outbreaks, influenced by local response capacities in epidemiological surveillance and clinical care.  

3. Transmission to humans occurs primarily through contact with infected animals (such as bats or pigs) or consumption of contaminated food products. Direct human-to-human transmission has also been documented.  

4. The virus is naturally harbored by fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, which are considered its natural reservoir.

5. The Nipah virus is classified as a priority disease on the WHO (World Health Organization) R&D Blueprint. A 2018 review underscored the urgent need for accelerated research and development efforts against this pathogen. 

(With input from WHO)