The Nipah virus (NiV) is a type of RNA virus in the genus Henipavirus. The virus normally circulates among specific types of fruit bats. Henipavirus is a genus of RNA viruses in the family Paramyxoviridae, order Mononegavirales containing five established species. Henipaviruses are naturally harboured by pteropid fruit bats (flying foxes) and microbats of several species.