Recent Advancement and Novel Approaches of Nipah Virus: An Overview

Since the Nipah Virus (NiV) first appeared in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998-99, the NiV virus has reappeared several times, infecting people critically and having a high fatality rate. It is categorized as a Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) pathogen because of its extreme pathogenicity and the scarcity of vaccinations and medicines. It is well recognized that fruit bats (Genus Pteropus) constitute a natural host and NiV reservoir. The virus spread from pigs to humans after infecting pigs. The primary means of NiV transmission are direct interactions or animal bodily fluids. Nipah Virus (NiV) is a recently identified zoonotic paramyxovirus that causes neurological and respiratory disorders in humans. In humans, the virus can incubate for two weeks to two months. High fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting are common signs of severe NiV encephalitis, as are aberrant eye reflexes, vasomotor abnormalities, seizures, and myoclonic jerks, which are signs of brainstem dysfunction. Many diagnosis techniques for NiV infection include serological, molecular, virological, and ELISA. Research is going on antivirals and vaccines that will aid in preventing and controlling outbreak situations in the future.