Nipah Virus
Virology, Transmission and Clinical Features
Nipah virus (NiV) belongs to the genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. Its natural reservoir is fruit bats (flying foxes) of the genus Pteropus, which are widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia and Oceania. Transmission to humans occurs via direct contact with infected bats or their secretions (date palm sap contamination is a key route in Bangladesh), through infected pigs or other intermediate hosts, and via limited human-to-human transmission among close contacts. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis (brain inflammation). The case fatality ratio ranges from 40% to 75% across different outbreaks.
- Family: Paramyxoviridae; Genus: Henipavirus
- Natural reservoir: Pteropus fruit bats (flying foxes)
- Transmission: Bat→human (via food/contact), animal→human, limited human→human
- CFR: 40–75% depending on healthcare capacity and early detection
- Clinical features: fever, headache, encephalitis, respiratory distress
- First identified: 1999 in Nipah village, Malaysia (in pig farmers)
- No licensed vaccine or specific treatment (ribavirin used off-label)
● Tracked since February 01, 2026 · last seen June 18, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes