WHO South-East Asia Regional Strategy for the prevention and control of Nipah virus infection 2023–2030

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus that has caused outbreaks of severe illness and death in the South-East (SE) Asia Region. While human NiV cases have, to date, been reported only in Bangladesh and India, countries in the Region are at risk wherever there are susceptible animals, presence of the virus, and a pathway for transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and underscored the need for systematic One Health approaches to reducing spillover of pathogens from animals into humans and preventing severe illness and death in humans, domestic animals and wildlife. Within the WHO SE Asia Region, substantial challenges remain in strengthening health systems and pandemic preparedness and response for high threat pathogens such as NiV. The WHO SE Asia Region Strategy for Nipah Virus Prevention and Control, 2023–2030 was developed to support Member States, especially senior decision-makers and programme managers involved in zoonotic disease control, to prevent illness and...