The Nipah virus pictured in red – credit, US NIH
Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network
Highly Fatal Virus May Finally Be Treatable with First Vaccine–Clinical Trials Starting
In January, India recorded a mini-outbreak of the Nipah virus, an often lethal disease spread by contact between humans and animals.
There was little that could be done for the victims, as no specialized treatment for Nipah virus exists other than normal supportive care procedures such as the treatment of the resulting symptoms, rest, and hydration.
Some well-studied antiviral medications like ribavirin, remdesivir, acyclovir, favipiravir, have seen use on a speculative basis during certain outbreaks, but real efficacy is unclear.
Now though, the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology has developed a potential Nipah virus vaccine by inserting some of the virus’ genetic material into the modified measles vaccine. Early trials in hamsters have shown it to be safe and effective.
Nipah virus fatality rates are 40% to 75%. It’s typically spread by contact between humans and bats, often through people consuming tree fruit contaminated with bat saliva. Once thusly contracted, it can spread quickly through humans via any form of fluid exchange.
The virus is present in the tropics and often in rural areas where access to medical care may be limited.
Tokyo University’s vaccine candidate is now on its way to Belgium for a Phase 1 testing in humans, where with the help of a nonprofit called the European Vaccine Initiative, it will be examined for safety across 60 test candidates.
The trials are set to begin in April.
The good news in this story is that this emerging virus of which little is known has a high priority in finding a preventative. Today’s JohnKu talks about being proactive. I hope you have a super weekend.
Prevention by John W. Howell © 2026
A deadly virus,
Needs to be brought to its knees . . .
Science is wonderful.
Fiction Favorites 
Sounds hopeful!
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It does. This is the first I’ve heard of the virus.
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This is exciting news! Looking forward to the positive updates!!
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Thanks, Annette.
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Hi John,
Love to your cheeky little pooches!
There’s always something hovering to upset our ‘apple cart!’ Do hope a reliable antidote can be found asap.
Keep well and your little rascals in order!
Cheers.
Joy Lennick
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Thank you, Joy. I agree on the “something hovering.” I share your hope.
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I’ve long thought that science will solve alll our major issues, maybe a bit naively, but here’s a great example.
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It’s good that they’re working on such a deadly virus. I sure hope there are good results.
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I do too. I didn’t know the virus existed, now I hope they find a cure. Thanks, Tim.
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I hadn’t heard of it before, thought it was just me.
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Well, let’s say there are two of us.
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That’s good news. Hope it works and people take it.
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Yes. I hope so too.
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There always seems to be a new virus come out to attack. Thankfully scientists are on full alert and work hard. Wonderful that this may be under control soon.
Happy Friday to you, John!
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Thank you, Dale. Happy Friday to you.
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Clever scientists to think of inserting the genetic material into the measles vaccine, which is so effective! Great news. I predict an explosion in medical treatments with AI. Is this virus found in the US?
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It can be carried by humans, so it is a matter of time before it reaches here. Right now, there have been no cases reported
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So it will get here! Drat.
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I’m sure it will. Drat
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Fascinating – and it sounds promising. Thanks for the good news story, John.
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Let’s hope we won’t need the vaccine.
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Fingers crossed the vaccine works and is safe!
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I agree, Debbie.
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This is great news, John. Thank you for sharing it with us. As your clever Johnku pointed out, human ingenuity, used for the greater good, can save us all.
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I believe that to be true. Thank you, Gwen. 😊
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Wonderful news. I hope it works out.
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I do too. Thanks, Diana
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Sounds encouraging for anyone who likes fruit.
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Nothing like a little bat spit on your fruit. I could see a couple licking all the fruit and saying, “That should hold ’em”
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It does sound like a John Howell story.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Craig.
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This does indeed sound hopeful, John. And yes, science is wonderful.
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I agree, Jan. Thanks.
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Good news in medicine for a change. Science is wonderful!
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I agree, Jo. Thank you.
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YES!! Science is wonderful!! Necessary, too.
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I think so, too, Liz.
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What a great triumph of science story!
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Yes, it is. Thank you, Rebecca.
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This is the first I’ve read of this virus, which strikes me in two ways. One, there are so man frightening viruses and diseases in the world that we’re not even aware of. Which is unnerving in itself. But the other more positive aspect is how science, when left to do its thing, can be dogged in its determination. Here’s to science.
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I agree. Cheers to science.
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Hear! Here!
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😊
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It is great that they developed a vaccine for the Nipah virus. Vaccines have done and are doing so much good. Brings to mind that smallpox killed 300 million people in the last century before eradication, chiefly through vaccination. I remember getting the smallpox vaccine. I did not get the measles or MMR vaccines, because they did not exist in northern Sweden when I was a kid. I contracted measles, chicken pox and rubella.
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I also had measles and chicken pox. Most kids did in the late 40s
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Same where I lived. This was around 1972/1973 but Sweden, especially northern Sweden got the vaccines later. All the kids in my class of 25 (except 3) got measles, at the same time, and then chicken pox and rubella. Measles was by far the worst. Rubella was like a week off school. A lot of kids got the mumps too, but somehow I was spared the mumps.
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I had the mumps as well.
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This is excellent news in trying to combat a simply awful virus. Hopefully the trails go well and another malady can become something from the past. Have a great weekend, John.
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Thank you, Monika. Let’s hope so.
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EGADS!
It’s enough to make one walk around in a hazmat suit and not eat.
Yes, SCIENCE! I’m down with it, and your JohnKu!
🦠X 🦠X
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Yes, be careful for sure. Do not eat what bats have licked 🦇 😊X
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YUK! I’m never licking anything again, just in case! O🦇 O🦇
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Good idea 😀X
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Gosh, a good reminder not to eat fresh fruit and veg while traveling, John. A horrible sounding virus that I’ve never heard of.
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They should be washed well if the water is good. It is a horrible virus.
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Grear news! So encouraging in our world! 🌹🌹🌹🦐🦐🦐🍻
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I agree, Maria.
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