Paramyxoviridae

The Paramyxoviridae are a large family of single-strand, enveloped RNA viruses which causes a number of human and animal diseases.

The most recognized viruses in this family are measles and mumps for human diseases and newcastle disease virus, canine distemper and rinderpest (recently eradicated) viruses for animal diseases.

The only viruses of this family handled by the Viral Special Pathogens Branch belong to the genus Henipavirus which contain 2 virus species: Hendra virus and Nipah virus. These viruses have been isolated from humans, bats, horses, and pigs.