Inside the Outbreak: Science and Prevention of Nipah Virus

Abstract

Nipah virus, an newly discovered zoonotic paramyxovirus of the henipavirus genus, continues to creates a threat to global health due to its high invading rate, recurring spillover events, and limited therapeutic options. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on niv epidemiology, transmission dynamics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive strategies across regions affected since its emergence in malaysia in 1998. Outbreak analyses from Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India highlight the virus’s complex ecology, shaped by human animal interfaces, pteropus bat reservoirs, and region-specific exposure patterns such as date palm sap consumption and livestock contact. The review underscores the absence of licensed antivirals or vaccines, although experimental candidates such as ribavirin, favipiravir, monoclonal antibodies, viral-vector vaccines, and subunit g-glycoprotein platforms show promising preclinical efficacy. A strong emphasis is placed on the one health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental surveillance to strengthen outbreak preparedness, as demonstrated effectively in kerala’s coordinated response. Future perspectives highlight the need for enhanced genomic surveillance of bats, real-time sequencing during outbreaks, ecological monitoring, and the development of rapid diagnostics and scalable vaccines. Collectively, this review emphasizes that sustained research, robust surveillance, cross-sector collaboration, and community level interventions remain crucial for mitigating the ongoing and future risk of niv epidemics.

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