NIPAH VIRUS INFECTION – A GLOBAL THREAT TO HUMANITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2727.2026.1.16167Keywords:
Nipah virus infection, Nipah virus, zoonosis, fatality rate, encephalitis, acute respiratory distress syndromeAbstract
SUMMARY: In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized Nipah virus (NiV) infection as one of the global threats to humanity. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent scientific publications on NiV epidemiology, including clinical case reports from South and Southeast Asia and India. The study analyzes the transmission routes of NiV worldwide and assesses the risks of its emergence in new regions. Current methods of diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine prevention are summarized.
The main routes of NiV transmission include contact with fruit bats of the Pteropus genus, infected pigs, and consumption of contaminated food products. Two main strains have been identified: the Malaysian strain (NiV-M) with an approximate fatality rate of 40 %, and the Bangladeshi strain (NiV-B), which leads to death in about 75 % of cases and shows an increased potential for human-to-human transmission. Mutations in the G-glycoprotein contribute to the virus’s adaptation to human cells and potentially increase its infectivity.
Globalization, as well as active trade and migration ties with endemic regions (India, Bangladesh, Malaysia), pose risks for the introduction of Nipah virus into Europe and Ukraine, potentially allowing the virus to adapt to local fauna. To prevent the spread of infection, enhanced import control, increased awareness among healthcare professionals regarding clinical signs of NiV infection, implementation of specific diagnostic protocols, and preparedness of healthcare systems for early detection and isolation are essential.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Н. А. Ничик, О. С. Біловус, Я. О. Білик
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Accepted 2026-04-18
Published 2026-04-20
