Nipah virus infection

Overview

Nipah Virus Infection (NiV) is an emerging infectious disease of public health importance in the South-East Asia Region.

The virus is named after the Malaysian village where it was first discovered. This virus along with Hendra virus comprises a new genus designated Henipavirus in the subfamily Paramyxovirinae. 

So far, NiV has infected 477 people and killed 252 since 1998. The distribution of NiV outbreaks in Bangladesh and India during 2001 to 2008 is shown in Figure 1. Outbreaks of Nipah in south Asia have a strong seasonal pattern and a limited geographical range. Case fatality rate of NiV ranges from 40-70% although it has been as high as 100% in some outbreaks.