Hendra virus

Immunohistochemistry has been a very valuable tool used to identify and study several other EIDs such as Ebola hemorrhagic fever Hendra virus encephali-... 

HENDRA VIRUS DISEASE and NIPAH VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS... 

Hendra virus (formerly called equine morbillivirus) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae. The virus w as first isolated in 1994 from specimens obtained during an outbreak of respiratory and neurologic disease in horses and humans in Hendra, a suburb of Brisbane, Austialia. 

Nipah virus, also a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, is related but not identical to Hendra virus. Nipah virus was initially isolated in 1999 upon examining samples from an outbreak of encephalitis and respiratoi illness among adult men in Malaysia and Singapore. 

Hendra virus caused disease in horses in Australia, and the human infections there were due to direct exposure to tissues and secretions from infected horses. Nipah virus caused a relatively mild disease in pigs in Malaysia and Singapore. Nipah virus was transmitted to humans, cats, and dogs through close contact with infected pigs. 

In Australia, humans became ill after exposure to body fluids and excretions of horses infected with Hendra virus. In Malaysia and Singapore, humans were infected with Nipah virus through clo.se contact with infected pigs. 

What are the signs and symptoms of Hendra virus disease and Nipah virus encephalitis ... 

Only three human cases of Hendra virus disease have been recognized. Two of the three individuals known to be infected had a respiratory illness with severe flu-like signs and symptoms. Infection with Nipah virus was associated with an encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) characterized by fever and drowsiness and more serious central nervous system disease, such as coma, seizures, and inability to maintain breathing. 

One of the three Hendra virus infections was marked by a delayed onset of progressive encephalitis. Serious nervous disease with Nipah virus encephalitis has been marked by some sequelae, such as persistent convulsions and personality changes. 

Two of the three human patients infected wiUt Hendra virus died. During the Nipah virus disease outbreak in 1998-99, about 40% of the patients w ith serious nervous disease who entered hospitals died from the illness. 

People who have contact with body fluids or excretions of horses infected with Hendra viru.s are at risk for Hendra virus disea.se. Nipah virus infection is associated with clo.se contact with Nipah virus-infected pigs. Neither disease has spread from human to human. 

Melioidosis 108 Psittacosis 110 Typhus Fevers 110 Viral Encephalitis 111 Eastern Equine Encephalitis 111 Western Equine Encephalitis 112 Hendra Virus Disease and Nipah Virus Encephalitis 112 Tick-Borne Encephalitis 114 T>T)hoid Fever 115 Shigellosis 117 Foodbome Hineses 121 Salmonellosis 131 Cholera 135... 

Virus Hendra virus Nipah virus Rift Valley fever virus VEE virus... 

Who is at risk for disease from Hendra and Nipah viruses ... 

How are infections with Hendra and Nipah virus prevented ... 

The distribution of these agents in their natural reservoirs w ill eventually define the geographic range of the threat the viruses pose. However, these viruses are recent discoveries, and much work remains to be done on their geographic distribution and the reservoir species. The occurrence of the disease in humans has been associated only with infection of an intermediate species such as horses with Hendra and swine with Nipah virus. Early recognition of the disease in the intermediate animal host is probably the most crucial means of limiting future human cases. 

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