A Phase 1 randomised clinical trial of a new Nipah virus vaccine, led by researchers in the US, is offering fresh hope for preventing this deadly infection. The study found that all three doses and vaccination schedules of the candidate vaccine, called HeV-sG-V, were safe and successfully triggered an immune response. These findings were published in the medical journal The Lancet.The World Health Organization has identified Nipah virus as a high-priority pathogen because it can be fatal in up to 82 percent of cases and currently has no approved treatment or preventive vaccine. The virus is mostly seen in parts of Southeast Asia.What Is Nipah Virus?Nipah virus, or NiV, is mainly spread by fruit bats but can also pass through pigs and other animals. It can lead to serious illness and death, and there is currently no medicine or vaccine available to treat or prevent it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the virus is most commonly reported in Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India.The virus can spread when:People or animals come into contact with bodily fluids such as blood, urine, stool, or saliva from an infected animal.People consume food that has been contaminated by an infected animal.People are in close contact with someone who has Nipah virus, often while caring for them.The most effective way to reduce the risk of Nipah virus infection is to avoid contact with sick animals, particularly bats and pigs, in regions where the virus is known to circulate. This also means avoiding foods that could be contaminated, such as raw date palm sap or partially eaten fruit. Since Nipah can spread from person to person through bodily fluids, extra caution is advised when interacting with infected individuals.Lancet Study Reveals New Nipah Vaccine Is SafeA Phase 1 randomised clinical trial of a new Nipah virus vaccine has raised hopes that prevention may soon be possible. The trial showed that the vaccine was safe and produced an immune response, according to findings published on December 13 in The Lancet.“The induction of antibodies within one month of vaccination, along with the sustained response seen with two doses, suggests this vaccine candidate could be useful both during outbreaks and for preventive purposes,” said researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, which led the study, as per NDTV,Scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Virology in Uttar Pradesh described the results as a “milestone” in Nipah vaccine development in an accompanying editorial published in The Lancet. The Phase 1 trial involved 192 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 49.The study found that a single dose did not produce a strong enough immune response. However, two doses were effective, with the strongest antibody responses seen in participants who received two 100-microgram doses of HeV-sG-V given 28 days apart.The most common side effect reported was mild to moderate pain at the injection site. No serious side effects, hospital admissions, or deaths were reported during the trial. In their editorial, ICMR-NIV experts noted that the vaccine should next be tested in a larger Phase 2 trial to better understand its safety profile and determine how much protection it can actually provide.