Chloroquine Administration Does Not Prevent Nipah Virus Infection and Disease in Ferrets

Hendra virus and Nipah virus, two zoonotic paramyxoviruses in the genus Henipavirus, have recently emerged and continue to cause sporadic disease outbreaks in humans and animals. Mortality rates of up to 75% have been reported in humans, but there are presently no clinically licensed therapeutics for treating henipavirus-induced disease. A recent report indicated that chloroquine, used in malaria therapy for over 70 years, prevented infection with Nipah virus in vitro. Chloroquine was assessed using a ferret model of lethal Nipah virus infection and found to be ineffective against Nipah virus infection in vivo.