Nipah Virus: Understanding the new emerging global threat

Abstract

Nipah virus, newly emerged zoonosis, is caused by the flying foxes. It has reported occasional outbreaks of encephalitis and respiratory syndrome and a significant mortality rate. Since 1998, when it was first identified in the Malaysia outbreak, this rare brain-damaging virus infection continues to emerge in different parts of the world. Although the risk of infection is imposed on almost a quarter of the world, due to widely distributed natural host, no approved specific treatment and vaccine available till now, but research continues. Therefore, a detailed discussion on this forthcoming infection need to be done. This review article aims on the current scenario of the infection caused by the Nipah virus as well as emphasize on the potential of Nipah virus infection to become global threat in future. Further, this article provides comprehensive review of the infection transmission, its sign and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods with emphasis on prevention and control measures.