Author(s)
Miss Ifshana Shafi, Mr Peerzada Mohammad Idrees, Mr Shaikh Anaitullah, Mr Umar Manzoor
- Manuscript ID: 140555
- Volume: 2
- Issue: 6
- Pages: 1856–1874
Subject Area: Other
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic, zoonotic, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. First recognized during a large outbreak of encephalitis among pig farmers in Sungai Nipah, Malaysia (1998–1999), the virus has since emerged as a recurrent public health threat in South and Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and India. The natural reservoir hosts are fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, commonly known as flying foxes, which harbor the virus asymptomatically. Spillover events occur through direct contact with infected bats, intermediate animal hosts such as pigs, or consumption of contaminated food products (e.g., raw date palm sap). Human-to-human transmission has been documented, particularly in healthcare and household settings, raising concerns about outbreak amplification.
Clinically, Nipah virus infection presents a wide spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute febrile illness, severe respiratory distress, and fatal encephalitis. Neurological manifestations include headache, dizziness, altered consciousness, seizures, and coma. The case fatality rate varies between 40% and 75%, depending on outbreak context, healthcare access, and surveillance capacity. Some survivors experience long-term neurological sequelae, and relapsing or late-onset encephalitis has been reported months to years after initial infection.
Pathogenesis involves viral entry via respiratory or oropharyngeal routes, followed by systemic dissemination through endothelial and neuronal tissues. The virus targets multiple organ systems, particularly the central nervous system and respiratory epithelium, causing widespread vasculitis, inflammation, and tissue necrosis. Diagnosis is primarily achieved through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and virus isolation in high-containment laboratories due to its classification as a Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) pathogen.