What is the Nipah virus?
Nipah virus is a rare but serious viral infection that primarily spreads from infected animals to humans, with the fruit bat being the main natural host. According to the World Health Organization, some infected individuals may be asymptomatic, but the disease is often very severe, with mortality rates ranging from 40% to 75%, depending on the healthcare system's capacity for early detection, treatment, and medical support.
Although human-to-human transmission is possible, health experts and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control emphasize that this transmission does not occur easily, and outbreaks often remain limited in scope. Currently, there are no approved vaccines, although experimental vaccines are under development and research.
How widespread is the virus?
Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1999. Since then, small outbreaks have been recorded almost annually, especially in Bangladesh, with sporadic cases also reported in India.
According to data from the Alliance for Infectious Disease Preparedness, nearly 750 confirmed cases had been recorded by December, with 415 deaths, reflecting the seriousness of the disease despite its limited spread. Reuters highlighted the virus in a series of reports in 2023 titled “Bat Territory.”
How is the Nipah virus transmitted?
In its early stages in Malaysia, the virus was primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs or their contaminated tissues. Over time, transmission via fruit bats became more common.
The World Health Organization indicates that consuming fruit or date palm products, such as raw date juice, contaminated with the urine or saliva of infected bats is the most likely source of infection. Limited human-to-human transmission has also been observed, primarily among family members or healthcare providers of infected individuals. Possible symptoms
Nipah virus symptoms typically begin with general, nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, making early diagnosis difficult. The condition can later progress to serious neurological symptoms, most notably acute encephalitis, and in some cases, severe respiratory problems.
In advanced cases, patients may experience seizures that rapidly progress to a coma within days. Although most recoveries are full, some suffer long-term neurological complications.
How worried should we be?
Scientists believe that despite the severity of the Nipah virus and the high mortality rate associated with it, it has not yet shown any signs of mutating to become more transmissible between humans or spreading globally on a large scale.
However, the World Health Organization classifies the virus as a serious public health threat, particularly in countries experiencing frequent outbreaks. Some outbreaks may lead to drastic measures, such as the mass culling of susceptible farm animals, especially pigs.
Experts point out that screening procedures at airports may have limited effectiveness, given the long incubation period of the virus, which makes it difficult to detect infected cases while traveling.
Vaccines and treatments
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Nipah virus, but several experimental vaccines are still under development. Among them is a vaccine developed by researchers at Oxford University, which uses the same technology as some COVID-19 vaccines .
Phase two clinical trials of this vaccine began in Bangladesh in December, in collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh, and with support from the Alliance on Outbreak Preparedness.
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