India, Jan. 5 -- image credit- freepik

India has taken a major step forward in its efforts to combat the Nipah virus (NiV), a deadly emerging infection globally. A new vaccine (ChAdOx NipahB vaccine) targeting this virus has recently entered Phase 2 clinical trials (taking place in Bangladesh) under collaborative forces of Pune-based Serum Institute of India, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in Norway, and the University of Oxford in the UK. With the virus causing sporadic but highly fatal outbreaks across South and Southeast Asia, this marks a significant moment in epidemic preparedness and vaccine innovation.

Nipah virus is a deadly disease from the same viral family as measles, the paramyxoviruses, and is recogn...