Mahendra Pal^1,, Priyanka Thakur², Ravindra Zende³, Aishwarya Nair³

Emerging and re-emerging viral zoonoses pose a serious threat to public health globally. The Nipah virus (NiV), a member of the genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae, is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus with case fatality rates ranging from 40% to 75%, depending on outbreak conditions and healthcare capacity. Considering case fatality rates ranging from 40% to over 75%, the Nipah virus is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus that occasionally causes epidemics of severe encephalitis and respiratory sickness in humans. Ever since it first appeared in Malaysia in 1998–1999, in South and Southeast Asia, the Nipah virus has frequently caused epidemics, especially in Bangladesh and India. The principal natural reservoir hosts have been identified as fruit bats of the genus Pteropus through extensive epidemiological, ecological, and molecular investigations. Transmission occurs through direct bat-to-human spillover, exposure to infected intermediate animal hosts, consumption of contaminated food products, and human-to-human transmission. This article synthesizes current evidence on the virology, transmission dynamics, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Nipah virus infection, with emphasis on recent Indian outbreaks. Recent advances in rapid molecular diagnostics, monoclonal antibody–based therapeutics, antiviral candidates, and vaccine development platforms are also critically discussed. Given its epidemic potential, high mortality, and absence of licensed vaccines or specific antiviral therapies, continued surveillance, strengthened outbreak preparedness, and accelerated research into effective medical countermeasures remains public health priority.

Emerging infections, Encephalitis, Nipah virus, One Health, Public health, Zoonotic disease