National Institute of Virology (NIV)

• ICMR-NIV in Pune, Maharashtra, was established in 1952 as the Virus Research Centre (VRC) under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), USA.

• It was part of RF's global program on arthropod-borne viruses. 

• After the RF withdrew its support in 1967, the ICMR fully funded the institute. 

• In 1978, following the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), it was renamed the National Institute of Virology (NIV) due to its national importance.

• The SAC is a twelve-member committee chaired by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Velu Nair (Retd.). It comprises one representative from the ICMR, two internal members from the ICMR, and a member secretary.

• NIV is the resource centre for the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) network of the Department of Health Research, Government of India. 

• Its research activities are coordinated by a SAC of eminent scientists.

Nipah Virus

• Nipah virus infection is an emerging zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through infected animals (such as bats and pigs) or food contaminated with the saliva, urine, and excreta of infected animals. 

• It can also spread through close contact with an infected person, though this is less common. 

• Hosts: Fruit bats of the family Pteropodidae, particularly Pteropus species.

• Virus type: Nipah is an RNA virus from the family Paramyxoviridae and the genus Henipavirus, closely related to the Hendra virus.

• Symptoms: range from acute respiratory infection to fatal encephalitis.

• Case-fatality: rates in outbreaks in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Singapore ranging from 40% to 100%. 

• Currently, there are no effective therapies or vaccines available.