Nipah virus: Preventing the next outbreak

Figure 1 Anthropogenic factors promoting zoonotic spillover. The menace of zoonotic spillover is result of consortium of factors which determine the interplay of ecological dynamics of infection in reservoir hosts, its’ transmission, and exposure among susceptible host. The geographical distribution of reservoir hosts, its propensity for human interaction, human behavior towards the reservoir and viral load carried by it are factors determining the possible site of attack. Host immunity and health status in conjunction with the viral load and virulence of the pathogen decide the probability and severity of infection.