Author:
Kohl Claudia,Siriwardana Sahan,Muzeniek Therese,Perera Thejanee,Bas Dilara,Öruc Mizgin,Brinkmann Annika,Becker-Ziaja Beate,Schwarz Franziska,Jeevatharan Hamsananthy,Weerasena Jagathpriya,Handunnetti Shiroma,Perera Inoka C.,Premawansa Gayani,Premawansa Sunil,Yapa Wipula,Nitsche Andreas
Abstract
AbstractNipah virus is an emerging pathogen with high public health relevance, causing outbreaks in South- and Southeast Asia with high case fatality rates. The natural reservoir host are fruit bats (Pteropus spp). In this study, we confirmed the presence of Nipah virus for the first time in Sri Lanka and are proving the genetic relatedness to Nipah virus strains from southern India, causing outbreaks in 2007, 2018, 2019 and 2023. It is noteworthy that the shedding of the Nipah Virus may have a temporal variation that correlates with the breeding season ofPteropus medius. Furthermore, preventive measures and possible mechanisms influencing viral shedding are discussed.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory