Explainer: Nipah virus: What is it?

Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family are considered the natural host of Nipah virus and are present in different parts of Asia and in Australia. [Courtesy, WHO]

Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, usually transmitted from animals to humans, but can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.

People with infection can develop a fever, and symptoms involving the brain (such as headache or confusion), and/or the lungs (such as difficulty breathing or cough).