New Vaccine Breakthrough Offers Hope Against Deadly Nipah Virus in Pigs

An international team led by The Pirbright Institute has made a significant breakthrough in controlling the deadly Nipah virus by developing and testing vaccine candidates for pigs, a key species in the virus’s transmission cycle. Nipah virus, originating from fruit bats, can jump to pigs and humans, causing severe illness and high fatality rates, especially in South and Southeast Asia. Since its discovery during a 1998-99 outbreak in Malaysia, Nipah has remained a serious public health threat, with no licensed vaccines or treatments currently available.

The study, published in npj Vaccines, tested three experimental vaccines using different viral surface proteins, including one using the same viral vector platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers assessed the vaccines’ ability to trigger immune responses in mice and pigs and conducted field trials on backyard pigs in Bangladesh’s Nipah-endemic regions.

All three vaccine candidates successfully protected pigs from infection, showing promising immunity even under real-world conditions. According to professor Simon Graham of The Pirbright Institute, preventing Nipah outbreaks in pigs can reduce human infections and protect both public health and economies dependent on livestock.

Building on this success, the team is collaborating with partners in Germany to create a cost-effective dual vaccine that protects pigs from both Nipah and a common swine disease, combining pandemic preparedness with practical benefits for farmers.

This research highlights the importance of a "One Health" approach, addressing the interconnected health of animals, humans, and the environment to combat emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential.

Note: This news summary was generated by AI based on a published press release, followed by a review from human editors.