Nipah virus
The infection: Nipah virus.
Its threat potential: Nipah is primarily spread through fruit bats native to parts of Asia, including India, either from direct contact or droppings that can contaminate food and water. But it can spread sometimes between humans, and experts worry that regular outbreaks will one day allow the virus to evolve and become more contagious.
Symptoms and treatment: Fever, headache, and other flu-like symptoms at first. In more severe cases, the virus causes brain swelling and neurological complications like seizures and coma. Around 40% to 75% die from the infection, and there is no current specific treatment for it.
