Therapeutic Advancement in Treatment and Prevention of Nipah Viral Infection: A Review

Abstract

The Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that poses a major risk to global health, with a high mortality rate and the potential for wide outbreaks. NiV, which originated in fruit bats, has shown a concerning potential to infect humans and cause serious respiratory and neurological disorders. The virus has a pleomorphic structure and a broad host range, preventing efforts to understand and regulate its pathogenesis. This review discusses current advances in the prevention and management of NiV, including the efficacy of several antiviral therapies in vitro and in vivo. Treatments such as Ribavirin, Favipiravir, Acyclovir, Remdesivir, and Balapiravir have produced varying results, whilst monoclonal antibodies such as m102.4, h5B3.1, and nAH1.3 provide effective neutralization but require additional testing in humans. In addition, innovative vaccination techniques such as recombinant measles virus, subunit vaccines, vector vaccines, and the novel mRNA-1215 vaccine have shown success in preclinical and early clinical trials. To reduce the risk of human transmission, preventive measures include early outbreak detection through improved surveillance systems, exposure-based screening, and educational activities. This covers vital guidelines like avoiding raw date palm sap during outbreak seasons and using physical barriers to prevent bat-to-human transmission, which is vital for controlling this deadly virus.