One health, one goal: Global imperatives for Nipah virus vaccine development

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic, highly pathogenic, negative-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Henipavirus (family Paramyxoviridae), causing severe encephalitis and/or acute respiratory illness in humans. Reported outbreaks show case-fatality rates ranging from approximately 40- 90%, influenced by healthcare quality, surveillance capacity, and clinical variability. Fruit bats (Pteropus spp.) serve as the natural reservoir, with transmission to humans occurring directly or through intermediate hosts such as pigs. Multiple outbreaks have confirmed efficient human-to-human spread, especially in healthcare and household settings. NiV's broad host range, high virulence, and absence of approved therapeutics or vaccines justify its classification as a World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen with pandemic potential. Current vaccine candidates-including glycoprotein subunits, viral vectors, virus-like particles, and mRNA platforms-target the viral attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins. Advancing NiV prevention demands a One Health approach integrating ecology, livestock management, community education, and robust clinical evaluation.