Mapping Global Trends and Research Alliances in Nipah Virus Studies: A Bibliometric Anaysis

Infectious diseases, also known as communicable disease or transmissible disease is illness that is caused due to pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. One of such infection is caused by zoonotic virus (bat-borne) known as Nipah virus (NiV). NiV is one of the worlds deadliest viruses leading to highest mortality rates. It is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to category C priority pathogen that belongs to genus Hepanivirus, and family Paramyxoviridae. The first occurrence of NiV was observed in Malaysia-Singapore during 1998-1999 and the most recent outbreak in Kozhikode district of Kerala in 2018. Currently, no drugs or vaccines specific to NiV have proven to yield effective outcome at advanced stage of the disease. However, some therapies involving antiviral drug like Ribavirin along with other medicines have shown to recover patients, reducing the death rate by 36%. Due to extensive research various therapeutic strategies have been proven to successfully target the viral infection during the early stages in animal models. Several vaccines have been under investigation and clinical trials serving as a promising approach towards effective and safe vaccine in both livestock animals and humans. This study underscores the essential contributions shaping the academic discourse in nipah virus research, bringing to light the most influential studies within the co-citation and co-occurrence network analysis. By identifying the keywords, we gain valuable insights into the foundational research driving advancements in this research area. The detailed mapping of the co-citation network further illuminates the interconnectedness of various research themes and the collaborative efforts that boost the field of nipah virus research in different horizons. The recognition of influential studies not only highlights the depth and breadth of scholarly engagement but also provides a roadmap for future research endeavours.