Facts about the Nipah Virus: Infographic

Facts About the Nipah Virus: Infographic

The Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus — meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans — that can cause severe illness in both humans and animals. It was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998–1999, and has since caused outbreaks in Bangladesh, India (Kerala), and other parts of South and Southeast Asia.

Key Facts

• Transmission — Nipah virus is primarily transmitted to humans from fruit bats (the natural host), pigs (as an intermediate host), and through direct contact with infected humans or their bodily fluids

• Symptoms — fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially fatal encephalitis (brain inflammation). Respiratory illness is also common

• Case fatality rate — between 40–75% depending on the outbreak location and healthcare response

• No approved vaccine or treatment — treatment is supportive; intensive care is often required

• Prevention — avoid contact with sick pigs or bats, avoid consuming raw date palm sap (a common route of transmission in Bangladesh), and practice strict infection control in healthcare settings

The Genetic Angle

While Nipah virus is not a genetic disease, genomic surveillance — the sequencing of viral genomes — plays a critical role in tracking outbreaks, understanding transmission chains, and developing vaccines and treatments. The same genomic technologies that MapmyGenome uses for personal health genomics are at the forefront of infectious disease surveillance and response.