Henipaviruses

Henipaviruses cause rare, but emerging, infection in the Asia-Pacific region.

Isolation and infection control measures should be put in place as soon as a case is suspected. Public health authorities should be informed as soon as a case is suspected.

Nipah and Hendra viruses cause encephalitis, although respiratory and influenza-like presentations are also common. Diagnosis is confirmed with serology or molecular testing.

Mainstay of treatment is supportive care.

Mortality rates are high; patients who survive may develop persistent fatigue, somnolence, and/or neurological impairment.

Henipaviruses are an important emerging cause of zoonotic disease in the Asia-Pacific region.[1]World Health Organization. Nipah virus (NiV) infection. 2017 [internet publication]. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/nipah/en [2]World Health Organization. Hendra virus (HeV) infection. 2017 [internet publication]. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hendra/en [3]Chua KB, Bellini WJ, Rota PA, et al. Nipah virus: a recently emergent deadly paramyxovirus. Science. 2000 May 26;288(5470):1432-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10827955?tool=bestpractice.com  Two viruses in this genus infect humans: Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV). The natural hosts of both viruses are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus. They both cause severe disease in animals and humans.

HeV infection in humans varies from mild influenza-like illness to fatal respiratory or neurological disease.[2]World Health Organization. Hendra virus (HeV) infection. 2017 [internet publication]. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hendra/en NiV infection in humans ranges from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis.[1]World Health Organization. Nipah virus (NiV) infection. 2017 [internet publication]. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/nipah/en

Nipah and henipaviral diseases have been added to the World Health Organization's R&D Blueprint list of epidemic threats that require urgent research and development action.[4]World Health Organization. R&D blueprint. List of blueprint priority diseases. 2018 [internet publication]. http://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/en

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