Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic bat-borne pathogen belonging to the paramyxoviruses. It was first identified in Malaysia in 1998. However, no cases have been detected in Malaysia since 1999. The virus is responsible for several outbreaks in the South and Southeast Asian regions.
Pteropus fruit bats are the main reservoir for the pathogen from which spillover can lead to diseases in humans and pigs.
The Malaysia-Singapore outbreak of the virus was associated with contact with pigs whereas the Indo-Bangladesh outbreak was associated with the consumption of raw date palm sap contaminated by fruit bats.
The virus causes severe…
