ETIDIOH - NEW

  Situation at a glance Between 1 January and 29 August 2025, the International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) for Bangladesh notified WHO of four confirmed fatal Nipah virus (NiV) infection cases , temporally unrelated , reported from four different districts across three separated geographical divisions (Barisal, Dhaka, and Rajshahi) in Bangladesh.  NiV infection is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through infected animals (such as bats or pigs ), or food contaminated with saliva, urine , and excreta of infected animals .  It can also be transmitted directly from person to person through close contact with an infected person.  Fruit bats or flying foxes (Pteropus species) are the natural hosts for the virus.  Human NiV infection is an epidemic-prone disease that can cause severe disease in humans and animals, with a high mortality rate , and outbreaks primarily occurring in South and South-East Asia .  Since the first recognized...

Situation at a glance Between 17 May and 12 July 2025, the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala informed through a series of official press releases about four confirmed cases , including two deaths , due to Nipah virus (NiV) infection in two districts of Kerala State.  NiV infection is a bat-borne disease transmitted to humans through infected animals (such as bats or pigs), contaminated food or, less commonly, through close contact with infected individuals.  Since 1998 NiV outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia , the Philippines , and Singapore .  In India, NiV infections have occurred multiple times since 2001 with outbreaks in West Bengal State in 2001 and 2007, and in Kerala State regularly since 2018.  Since 2018, Kerala has reported a total of nine NiV outbreaks . While the state has a strong healthcare system and improved infection control measures since 2023, it is advisable to maintain strong preparedness a...

Abstract Nipah virus (NiV) causes a severe neurological disease in humans . The first NiV outbreak, in Malaysia , involved pig-to-human transmission , that resulted in significant economic losses to the local pig industry. Despite the risk NiV poses to pig-dense regions, no licensed vaccines exist . This study therefore assessed three NiV vaccine candidates in pigs: (1) adjuvanted soluble NiV (s)G protein, (2) adjuvanted pre-fusion stabilised NiV (mcs)F protein, and (3) adenoviral vectored NiV G (ChAdOx1 NiV G). NiV sG induced the strongest neutralising antibody response , NiV mcsF induced antibodies best able to neutralise cell-cell fusion, whereas ChAdOx1 NiV G elicited CD8+ T-cell responses. Despite differences in immunogenicity, prime-boost immunisation with all candidates conferred a high degree of protection against NiV infection. Follow-up studies demonstrated longevity of immune responses and broadly comparable immune responses in Bangladeshi pigs under field conditions. These ...

ABSTRACT The Henipavirus genus comprises five viral species, of which the prototype members, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), are reported to infect humans. In humans and other spill-over hosts , HeV/NiV can cause severe respiratory and/or encephalitic disease , with mortality rates exceeding 50%; currently, there are no approved human vaccines and only limited therapeutic options . As members of the family Paramyxoviridae , henipaviruses have six “core” structural proteins and typically three additional accessory proteins that are expressed from the P gene. Several of these proteins are multifunctional, with roles in forming intracellular interfaces with the host (in particular, M, P, V, W, and C proteins), to modulate processes including antiviral responses, supporting viral replication. Understanding the molecular basis of these interfaces and their functions is critical to delineate the mechanisms of pathogenesis and may inform new strategies to combat infection and diseas...

Abstract In 2014, an outbreak of zoonotic Nipah virus (NiV) occurred on Mindanao Island , the Philippines . We investigated the prevalence of NiV in Philippine bats . Because neutralizing antibodies were detected in insectivorous bats on Siargao Island , public health officials should consider that the distribution range of NiV is not limited to Mindanao Island. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/8/25-0210_article ____

Abstract Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) are two highly pathogenic RNA viruses with zoonotic potential, which can cause severe diseases with high mortality rates (50–100%) in humans and animals . Given this context, these viruses are classified as Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) pathogens , thus limiting research studies. Despite the high case fatalities , there are currently no human vaccines available for either virus , owing in part to the limitations in research and hesitancy in funding . In the absence of widespread vaccination, diagnostic tests are crucial for the rapid identification of cases and disease surveillance. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and pathogenesis of NiV and HeV to contextualize a detailed assessment of the available diagnostic tools. We examined molecular and serological assays, including RT-PCR, ELISA, and LAMP , highlighting sample sources, detection windows, and performance. Diagnostic considerations...

Abstract Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) are highly pathogenic henipaviruses without approved human vaccines or therapies . Here, we report on a highly potent bispecific therapeutic that combines an anti-fusion glycoprotein nanobody with an anti-receptor-binding glycoprotein (RBP) antibody to deliver a dual-targeting biologic that is resistant to viral escape. We show that the nanobody, DS90, engages a unique, conserved site within the fusion glycoprotein of NiV and HeV and provides neutralization and complete protection from NiV disease . Bispecific engineering of DS90 with the anti-RBP monoclonal antibody m102.4 results in neutralization, elimination of viral escape and superior protection from NiV disease compared to leading monovalent approaches. These findings carry implications for the development of cross-neutralizing immunotherapies that limit the emergence of henipaviral escape mutants. Source: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology,  https://www.nature.com/artic...

Abstract Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of microorganisms, including many notable zoonotic pathogens. However, the composition of the infectome (i.e., the collection of viral, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms) within bat kidneys remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we performed meta-transcriptomic sequencing on kidney tissues from 142 bats , spanning ten species sampled at five locations in Yunnan province, China . This analysis identified 22 viral species , including 20 novel viruses , two of which represented newly discovered henipaviruses closely related to the highly pathogenic Hendra and Nipah viruses . These henipaviruses were found in the kidneys of bats inhabiting an orchard near villages, raising concerns about potential fruit contamination via bat urine and transmission risks to livestock or humans. Additionally, we identified a novel protozoan parasite, tentatively named Klossiella yunnanensis , along with two highly abundant bacterial species...

Highlights •  Systematic and routine monitoring antigenic drift and shift of AIV in wild birds and poultry is needed. •  Community-based surveillance is key for improving NiV case detection. •  Integrated surveillance across One Health sectors is required. •  Lab upgrades to BSL-3 are needed for enhanced biosafety and diagnostics. Abstract Nipah and avian influenza viruses (NiV and AIV) are priority zoonotic pathogens in Bangladesh and are also important globally because of their pandemic potential . To understand current strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance preparedness for NiV and AIV in Bangladesh, as part of the USAID STOP Spillover program , 47 relevant stakeholders were surveyed, and two country leads of the primary surveillance systems were interviewed. Data was collected focusing on four different areas: research projects, surveillance systems, laboratories, and outbreak risk management systems. Despite progress in recent years, our ...

Abstract Nipah virus, a zoonotic pathogen, can cause debilitating disease and death in humans. Currently, countermeasures are limited , with several in various stages of testing but none yet FDA-approved for human use. Evaluation of countermeasure candidates requires safety testing in humans, as well as efficacy testing against lethal challenge in animal models . Herein, we describe the characterization and comparison of the intraperitoneal and intranasal Syrian golden hamster models for Nipah virus strains Malaysia and Bangladesh . Overall, the intraperitoneal route of exposure resulted in a more consistent lethal outcome, regardless of virus strain. Therefore, the IP model was subsequently used to evaluate the use of Favipiravir as a potential positive control for future studies investigating NiV countermeasures. In contrast to prior reported results regarding Favipiravir in Nipah virus-infected hamsters, Favipiravir was only fifty percent effective at preventing death following leth...

Abstract Henipaviruses, such as Hendra and Nipah viruses, are major zoonotic pathogens that cause encephalitis and respiratory infections in humans and animals . The recent emergence of Langya virus in China highlights the need to understand henipavirus host diversity and geographic spread to prevent future outbreaks. Our analysis of the National Center for Biotechnology Information Virus and VIRION databases revealed ≈1,117 henipavirus sequences and 142 complete genomes. Bats (64.7%) and shrews (11.7%) dominated the host species record, and the genera Pteropus and Crocidura contained key henipavirus hosts in Asia, Australia, and Africa . Henipaviruses found in the Eidolon bat genus exhibited the highest within-host genetic distance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed batborne and rodent- or shrew-derived henipaviruses diverged ≈11,000 years ago and the first known lineage originating in Eidolon genus bats ≈9,900 years ago. Pathogenic henipaviruses diverged from their ancestors 2,800–1,200...

Summary The 2024 Nipah outbreak in Kerala, India —its fifth in six years—and the recurring annual outbreaks in Bangladesh underscore the persistent threat posed by the Nipah virus (NiV) in the region. With a high mortality rate, human-to-human transmission potential , and the widespread presence of Pteropus bats , the natural reservoir, NiV remains a significant epidemic threat . Despite being a WHO priority pathogen , there has been no systematic effort to improve patient care for NiVD, leading to consistently poor outcomes . Current care relies on supportive measures and the ‘ compassionate use ’ of unapproved drugs like ribavirin and remdesivir . Drugs used ‘off-label’ during outbreaks can become the ‘standard of care’ without robust evidence of their safety or efficacy, complicating the testing of new therapies and perpetuating uncertainty about their true effectiveness. To improve NiVD care, we propose four key strategies: 1) Enhance early case detection , 2) optimize supportive c...