Nipah Virus - Agent of Infectious Dangerous Disease

The review provides the information on etiology, epidemiology, clinical features and prevention of a little-known viral encephalitis Nipah. Given is the characteristics of the pathogen and its ecology. Objective of the review is to inform Russian specialists about the new dangerous disease unknown in the Russian Federation. Nipah virus infections in humans were first described in Malaysia (1998-1999), later in Bangladesh (2004) and India (2006). The causative agent was identified as a new member of paramyxoviruses in 1998, and then, together with related Hendra virus, has been separated in a new genus of the family Paramyxoviridae . The natural reservoir of the virus are fruit bats, predominantly carnivorous flying foxes of 8 species, Pteropus genus; the secondary reservoir - domestic pigs. Nipah virus is highly contagious for swines, that can act as amplifying and reservoir host. The disease in humans is characterized by symptoms and signs of encephalitis and acute pulmonary failure, rapidly developing coma. Lethality is 38.5-92.0 %. Registered are the outbreaks when virus transmission occurred from person-to-person. Specific treatment has not been developed. Prophylaxis is nonspecific.