Epidemiology of henipavirus disease in humans

Stephen P. Luby, Emily S. Gurley

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

All seven recognized human cases of Hendra virus (HeV) infection have occurred in Queensland, Australia. Recognized human infections have all resulted from a HeV infected horse that was unusually efficient in transmitting the virus and a person with a high exposure to infectious secretions. In the large outbreak in Malaysia where Nipah virus (NiV) was first identified, most human infections resulted from close contact with NiV infected pigs. Outbreak investigations in Bangladesh have identified drinking raw date palm sap as the most common pathway of NiV transmission from Pteropus bats to people, but person-to-person transmission of NiV has been repeatedly identified in Bangladesh and India. Although henipaviruses are not easily transmitted to people, these newly recognized, high mortality agents warrant continued scientific attention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHenipavirus
Subtitle of host publicationEcology, Molecular Virology, and Pathogenesis
EditorsBenhur Lee, Paul Rota
Pages25-40
Number of pages16
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 8 2012
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameCurrent Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
Volume359
ISSN (Print)0070-217X

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology (medical)

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