mortal. In the epidemic of Malaysia 1999, the Nipah virus has killed nearly 40% of its victims.
An enigmatic, highly lethal virus group has struck again. More than 40 people in Bangladesh seem to have fallen ill with encephalitis in the last month, and 14 died. Tests indicate the Nipah virus, which began with a devastating epidemic in Malaysia in 1999. Dozens of other cases are under investigation, according to the World Health Organization
The disease appeared in several clusters in central Bangladesh. most victims are children, said principal investigator Robert Breiman the Centre for Health and Population Research in Dhaka.
The Nipah virus and an Australian cousin, Hendra, both naturally infect Pteropus fruit bats. Using horses as an intermediate host, Hendra first jumped to humans in 1994, killing two. Nipah made its way to humans in Malaysia after causing a massive outbreak in pigs, killing 105 of its 276 victims (science, including April 16, 1999, p. 407). Grouped together in a new genre - the Henipavirus -. Attention within the paramyxovirus family, high mortality and the ability to jump the species barriers duo drew
Bangladesh had even small outbreaks in 01 and 03. Since the researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta could detect antibodies against Nipah antigens in patients, but were unable to isolate the virus, they nicknamed "Nipah-like." This time, the virus was isolated, Breiman said, and CDC studies should soon make clear whether Nipah or a close relative
epidemiologically, "it is a very different disease than in Malaysia. - C is what makes it so fascinating, "said Breiman most victims were Malaysian pig farmers;. Bangladesh, there has been no outbreak of swine, and most patients were males . aged 8 to 15 years in Bangladesh bats Tests have shown that they, too, carry Nipah-like virus if an intermediate host, such as the outbreak of Malaysia is scrutinized is. also possible that the victims were directly exposed to feces of infectious bats, said Breiman.
There is no cure for Nipah, but a vaccine is under development. in the January issue of Journal of Virology , the french and Malaysian researchers reported that vaccinia virus, modified to express one or the other of two surface glycoproteins of Nipah protected golden hamsters with a mortal challenge Nipah. Because antibodies against Nipah and Hendra cross reaction, Institut Pasteur main virologist Vincent Deubel said he is "pretty confident" that the vaccine also protect against the virus Bangladesh.
Related Sites
WHO press release
Book on outbreaks of 01 and 03 in Bangladesh by the Center for Health and the research population
information about Nipah
vaccine document Summary
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