Forum : Diseases and disease agents
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Topic:
Nipah virus encephalitis (Nipah virus)(see also Hendra virus)
Name:
R Woods
Date:
18/02/2009 4:04:21 PM
Email:
rwoods@zoo.nsw.gov.au
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Name
Date Of Event
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R Woods
18/02/2009
It is currently believed that certain species of fruit bats are the natural hosts of both Nipah and Hendra viruses. They are distributed across an area encompassing northern, eastern and south-eastern areas of Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and some of the Pacific Islands. The bats appear to be susceptible to infection with these viruses, but do not themselves become ill. It is not known how the virus is transmitted from bats to animals. It has not been found in bats in Australia.
R Woods
06/03/2006
CSIRO scientists are testing a new vaccine that shows promise of a breakthrough in preventing infection by the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses. The two closely related viruses – thought to be harboured by flying foxes – pose a significant human health risk. Hendra virus killed two people and 16 horses in Queensland in 1994-95 while an outbreak of the Nipah virus was responsible for more than 100 deaths in Malaysia in 1999. Researchers at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) have been working since 2004 in collaboration with US scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health to develop potent anti-viral therapies. See:http://www.csiro.au/csiro/content/standard /ps1b2,,.html
R Woods
17/01/2006
Nipah virus has not been reported in Australia. It is, however, a virus of great interest to Australia and the AB-CRC, UQ, QDPI&F and SA Museum currently have a PhD project that attempts to assess the risk of introduction of Nipah virus into Australia via flying foxes up and running (see: http://www1.abcrc.org.au/pages/Education.aspx?MenuID=30#top).
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