Nipah virus (Nipah Virus (NiV))

Introduction

Potential agent of bioterrorism

Epidemiology

• natural host of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus
• 1st identified in 1999 in Malaysia & Singapore
• distribution Southeast Asia, India, Madagascar, Polynesia, northern & eastern Australis

Pathology

• causes severe disease in both animals & humans

Clinical manifestations

• variable from asymptomatic to
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • fatal encephalitis
• incubation period of 5 to 14 days
• fever & headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation & confusion
• signs & symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours
• 1/2 of patients with severe neurologic disease also have pulmonary disease

Laboratory

• RT-PCR from throat & nasal swabs, CSF, urine, & blood

Management

• supportive care

More general terms

• Henipavirus