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Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia

Kaw Bing Chua1

  • 1International Medical University, Sesama Center, Plaza Komanwel, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia. chuakb@imu.edu.my

Journal of Clinical Virology : the Official Publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
|March 15, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Nipah virus, a novel paramyxovirus, caused a severe outbreak in Malaysia in 1998. Fruit bats are natural hosts, and ecological changes facilitated its spread to pigs and humans.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Nipah virus (NiV) emerged in Malaysia in 1998, causing severe febrile encephalitis in humans and respiratory/neurological disease in pigs.
  • NiV is a novel paramyxovirus, related to Hendra virus, with high mortality in humans and lower mortality in pigs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the emergence and characteristics of the Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia.
  • To identify the natural reservoir hosts and transmission dynamics of Nipah virus.

Main Methods:

  • The study involved epidemiological investigation of the outbreak.
  • Histopathological and radiological examinations were conducted on affected humans and animals.
  • Ecological factors contributing to virus spillover were assessed.

Main Results:

  • The outbreak spread from Malaysia to Singapore due to pig movement.
  • Fruit bats (Pteropid species) were identified as the natural reservoir hosts.
  • Ecological changes, including piggery locations and design, facilitated virus spillover from bats to pigs and then to humans.

Conclusions:

  • Nipah virus poses a significant zoonotic threat.
  • Ecological changes and human activities play a crucial role in Nipah virus emergence and transmission.
  • Understanding transmission dynamics is vital for preventing future outbreaks.

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