ABSTRACT
Virus transgressions across species boundaries pose an ongoing threat to human, animal, and plant health worldwide. Outbreaks associated with the virus can cause a considerable economic impact as far as human health is concerned, as evident from the requirement for intensive care treatment, high death rates, and debilitating sequelae in survivors. Nipah virus (NiV) and the closely related Hendra virus (HeV) constitute the pathogenic members of the genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. NiV contains a longer genome than other paramyxoviruses. NiV exhibits one of the broadest host ranges reported among paramyxoviruses. NiV, maintained in nature principally in pteropid and multiple other species of fruit bats, probably evolved within them over millions of years. NiV, like morbilliviruses, employs protein receptors to gain entry into susceptible cells.
