Nipah Virus

Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic infection primarily transmitted by fruit bats, contaminated food, or close contact with infected animals and humans, though human to human transmission is rare. Signs and symptoms can include headache, confusion, a sore throat, cough or difficulty breathing. Additional symptoms may include chills, muscle aches, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, or enteric symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine, and the Nipah virus infection has a high fatality rate. It is not a reportable human disease in Ontario but suspected or confirmed cases in animals are immediately reportable to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). There have been no reported cases in humans or animals in Canada.