Can Nipah Virus be Considered as a Potential Pathogen for Next Pandemic? A Critical Appraisal

Mahendra Pal^1, and Kirubel Paulos Gutama²

¹Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology- Anand-388001, Gujarat, India

²Adaba Woreda Livestock and Fishery Resource Development Office, West Arsi, Ethiopia

Cite this paper:
Mahendra Pal and Kirubel Paulos Gutama. Can Nipah Virus be Considered as a Potential Pathogen for Next Pandemic? A Critical Appraisal. American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology. 2021; 9(4):122-128. doi: 10.12691/ajidm-9-4-3

Abstract

Nipah virus is an emerging paramyxovirus in the family Paramyxoviridae that infects humans as well as animals. It was first discovered in Malaysia in 1998 and has since spread across Southeast Asia. There are two strains of Nipah virus: the Malaysian strain (NiV-M) and the Bangladeshi strain (NiV-B) (NiV-B). NiV’s natural hosts are fruit bats of the genus Pteropus (“Flying bat”), which are the main risk factor for Nipah virus disease. Bats of the genus Pteropus are distributed across Asia's tropics and subtropics. Domesticated animals contract NiV after eating contaminated fruit, drinking polluted water or eating aborted bat fetuses or birth products. NiV is transmitted between bats and people through two main routes: intermediate hosts and food-borne transmission via date palm sap contaminated with fruit bat saliva or urine. The condition is extremely deadly, causing severe neurological and respiratory symptoms. A number of immunological and molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed for diagnosis and surveillance of disease. Diagnosis and management become more challenging when a new area is affected. The high mortality rate associated with infection, as well as the risk of infection spreading to other areas, has highlighted the significance of proper care and control of this life threatening zoonosis. For the time being, there is no treatment or vaccine available for Nipah virus infection. Preventing infection in livestock could be a valuable management method in places where they act as intermediate hosts. Humans can avoid contracting Nipah virus disease by avoiding direct contact with infected hosts (fruit bats and pigs) or their secretions.

Keywords:
flying bat Nipah virus Nipah virus disease public health Zoonosis

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