‘Pandemic potential’ alert over new bat virus with no vaccine or treatment

A bat-borne, brain-swelling disease with ‘pandemic potential’ has put the world on high alert. Here’s everything you need to know about Nipah virus.

News of a deadly disease outbreak with “pandemic potential” will no doubt trigger flashbacks to the dark days of Covid when we were told to stay home and sing Happy Birthday twice while washing our hands.

This time, it’s the bat-borne Nipah virus, a zoonotic infection – one that can jump from animals to humans – with a death rate of between 40% and 75%, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Officials in India have been racing to contain the virus after two…