Nipah virus outbreaks: a CBRNE framework for global biocontainment

Nipah virus (NiV), a deadly zoonotic pathogen with a fatality rate of 40-75%, continues to pose a significant pandemic threat, as evidenced by recent outbreaks in Kerala, India (2023 and 2024). These events highlight NiV's potential for human-to-human transmission, particularly in healthcare settings, and its ability to cause severe respiratory and neurological disease. Given the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics, this review explores the implementation of CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive) strategies for outbreak containment through military-developed protocols including high-level biocontainment units, aerosolized disinfectant systems, and controlled movement zones. The proposed framework addresses NiV’s unique challenges by combining rapid deployment of mobile isolation pods, strict corpse management procedures, and specialized healthcare worker protection with broader public health preparedness. Recent responses to epidemics in India demonstrate how the potential integration of CBRNE approaches can reduce transmission risks while preserving essential social functions through preventive training, interagency coordination, and strategic resource allocation. This review provides policymakers with actionable recommendations for mitigating NiV’s biological threat through unified military-civilian response architectures.