What is Nipah virus and should Australians be concerned?

Close contacts have been traced and tested, and no further cases have been detected so far.

Nipah virus is a rare virus first identified in Malaysia in 1999. It is recognised globally as a priority pathogen because of its high fatality rate and potential to cause severe outbreaks if not detected early. 

The virus has a high fatality rate, estimated by the World Health Organization at 40–75 per cent. Some people who survive may experience long-term neurological complications. 

Bat virologist Dr Joshua Hayward, senior research officer at Burnet Institute, answers some of the most common questions below. 

What is Nipah Virus? 

Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. It can cause acute respiratory illness and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Infection most commonly occurs through contact with infected fruit bats or pigs, or by consuming food contaminated by urine or saliva from infected animals. 

How is it transmitted? 

Limited person-to-person transmission can occur through close contact, particularly in household or healthcare settings. 

What is the risk to Australians? 

For Australia, the immediate risk to the general public remains very low. Nipah virus hasn’t previously been reported within Australia and there are currently no reported cases.  

But the closely related Hendra virus is present in Australia and associated with bats and horses. 

Australia has strong disease surveillance and response systems in place to detect and manage emerging infectious threats. 

There is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah virus, so prevention relies on reducing exposure risks, early case detection and high-quality supportive care.

Continued global investment in surveillance, research and preparedness for zoonotic diseases is essential to reduce the risk of future outbreaks.