Vol. 10, Issue 1 (2021)

Author(s):
M Sudharsan and AM Veerakumar

Abstract:
Nipahvirus or Nipah viral encephalitis is an emerging zoonotic disease. It is a negative - sense, non-segmented, single stranded RNA virus of the family of paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus and is closely related to hendra virus. The natural reservoir of Nipah virus is pteropid bats (flying foxes) also called fruit bats on the genus of Pteropus. Viral infection is mainly acquired by bats saliva, urine, faeces and birth fluids. Virus affected animals mostly having severe febrile encephalitis. First line of treatment is Ribavirin can reduce the mortality of acute Nipah encephalitis. Diagnosis may be done with polymerase chain reaction and serological test like Enzyme – linked immunosorbant assay.