Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 2025 , Vol 31 , Issue 6
Nipah Virus: An Emerging Zoonotic Threat with Pandemic Potential, Therapeutic Control and Vaccine Development
Muhammad Shoaib MAQBOOL1, Talha AHMAD2, Muhammad DAWOOD3, Ayesha Bintay FAROOQ4, Farwa Saghir AHMAD5, Abdul REHMAN6, Ghazala SHAHEEN7
1University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faculty of Veterinary Science, 38040 Faisalabad, PAKISTAN
2University of Dundee, Scotland, Center of Anatomy and Human Identification, DD1 4HN Dundee, UNITED KINGDOM
3Lahore Medical and Dental College, Sharif Medical City Hospital, 53400 Lahore, PAKISTAN
4Government College University Faisalabad, Department of Physiology, 38000 Faisalabad, PAKISTAN
5University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 54890 Lahore, PAKISTAN
6University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faculty of Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 38040 Faisalabad, PAKISTAN
7The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Department of Microbiology, 63100 Bahawalpur, PAKISTAN DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2025.35099 Throughout history, viral outbreaks of varying intensities and frequencies have caused disaster and terror in the world. The Nipah virus (NiV), which is extremely virulent, has a high case fatality rate, high pandemic potential, and a contagious virus outbreak of zoonotic origin. This encapsulated virus poses a significant risk of frequent outbreaks in Southeast Asia, and its glycoproteins are necessary for it to enter the host cells. Both neurological and respiratory symptoms are associated with pathogenesis. Like monoclonal antibodies and ribavirin antiviral drugs used as potential remedies, but the treatment is modest. Preventive approaches, such as stringent infection control protocols in hospitals and healthcare facilities and population-wide interventions, can help control NiV outbreaks. Prospects for the future suggest that to improve preparedness, there is a need to put a lot of effort into the development of vaccines and preparing antivirals. A comprehensive strategy for addressing NiV should include community education, rigorous surveillance, and epidemiological surveys. A concerted One Health approach that supports human, animal, and environmental surveillance is also essential for NiV management and prevention. In this review, the outbreak of NiV, along with the routes of transmission, prevention and control strategies used, potential causes of the outbreaks, and the precautions that private-public initiatives should take to ensure a lower incidence of disease are discussed. Keywords : Nipah virus, Hendra virus, Henipavirus, zoonosis, Bat-borne disease, Pathogenesis, Pandemic potential