1 Your virology colleague informs you that a new and deadly

1. Your virology colleague informs you that a new and deadly virus has been has been discovered in pig farms in Malaysia. He adds: “this virus is called Nipah virus. I believe it is an arbovirus”. Do you agree with him or not?

Explain your answer. Please explain in thorough detail and reasoning.

Solution

I do not agree with him that it is an arbovirus. Nipah virus is transmitted initially from bats to pigs, with subsequent spread within pig populations. Transmission of Nipah virus to humans may occur after direct contact with infected bats, infected pigs, or from other NiV infected people.

In Malaysia and Singapore, humans were apparently infected with Nipah virus only through close contact with infected pigs while Arbovirus is a term used to refer to any viruses that is transmitted by arthropod vectors. The word arbovirus is an acronym (Arthropod-Borne virus). The word tibovirus is sometimes used to more specifically describe viruses transmitted by ticks, a superorder within the arthropods. Arboviruses can affect both animals, including humans, and plants.