Words by Isabel O’Brien
A 14-year-old boy has died of Nipah virus in Kerala, South India, prompting swift action from the government to identify and isolate high-risk contacts in an effort to contain the spread of the disease.
The Nipah virus, known for its high mortality rate and severe impact on both the respiratory and central nervous systems, is one of the most lethal viruses without an approved vaccine or therapeutic treatment.
The latest incident underscores the urgent need for effective medical interventions against Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans. The virus can be spread through infected bats, infected pigs, or other infected people. Although outbreaks have primarily occurred in South and Southeast Asia, the virus’s potential for global dissemination is high due to the wide geographic range of its fruit bat hosts, which cover regions inhabited by over two billion people.
In response to the growing threat, the University of Oxford launched a clinical trial in January 2024 to test a new vaccine against Nipah virus. Professor Brian Angus, the trial’s Principal Investigator and Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Centre for Clinical Tropical Medicine and Global Health, emphasised the critical nature of this endeavour.
“Nipah virus was first identified in 1998, and yet 25 years on, the global health community still has no approved vaccines or treatments for this devastating disease…” he said. “This vaccine trial is an important milestone in identifying a solution that could prevent local outbreaks occurring, while also helping the world prepare for a future global pandemic.”
What further underscores the gravity of the situation is the inclusion of Nipah virus in the World Health Organization’s R&D Blueprint list of epidemic threats requiring urgent action. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has also committed more than $100m to advance Nipah virus research and development programmes.
As the scientific community races to develop effective vaccines and treatments, the recent death in Kerala serves as a stark reminder of the persistent and evolving threat posed by the Nipah virus. Efforts in R&D are critical in preventing future outbreaks and safeguarding global health.
