NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A new drug is effective against two deadly and highly infectious viruses -- Hendra and Nipah, both potential bioterror threats -- U.S. researchers say.
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York say the Hendra and Nipah viruses are related, newly recognized zoonotic viruses that can spread from their natural reservoir in fruit bats to larger animals -- including pigs, horses and humans.
The mode of transmission isn't clear, but is thought to be relatively easy -- either by close contact with an infected animal or by breathing in the microscopic pathogens.
Senior researcher Dr. Anne Moscona of the Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center says the infection often leads to a fatal encephalitis, and there is currently no effective treatment against these illnesses.
"We have now tested the peptide-based entry inhibitor in monkey cells to show that it does effectively block infection with both live Hendra and Nipah," Moscona said in a statement.
The study is published in the Journal of Virology.
