A virus with characteristics similar to influenza that can be transferred to people from shrews was discovered in China
Shrews Discovered A Novel Virus
A novel virus that has been identified by researchers and discovered to have infected 35 people in eastern China has prompted the researchers to issue a precaution. The Langya Henipavirus, also known simply as “Langya,” is a member of a family of viruses.
They are known to be responsible for the deaths of up to 75% of chronically afflicted patients. Nevertheless, none of the currently active cases of Langya have yet resulted in fatalities. According to the consensus of the scientific community, the virus was likely first spread by animals, specifically shrews.
Shrews – Transmission
Late in 2018, the unique Langya henipavirus (LayV) was found for the first time in the northeastern provinces of Shandong and Henan. However, it wasn’t until this week that scientists were able to formally identify the virus.
According to scientists, the virus was most likely passed from animals to humans, and the health department in Taiwan is currently investigating the spread of the infection.
The way viral RNA was discovered in more than one-fourth of 262 wild shrews studied by researchers, is “a discovery that suggests the shrew may be a natural reservoir.” In addition, 2% of domestic goats and 5% of dogs were found to be infected with the virus.
The Risk of Langya Virus
The Nipah virus, like that of the Covid virus, belongs to the same family as the Langya virus, and both viruses are transmitted from person to person via coughing or sneezing. The World Health Organization has identified this pathogen as one of the viruses that have the greatest risk of triggering the next global pandemic.
The virus causes symptoms such as fever, weariness, cough, loss of appetite, and aches and pains in the muscles in humans. According to the findings of the researchers, every single infected person developed a fever.
The fact that the virus was the only possible pathogen discovered in 26 of the 35 persons gives credibility to the hypothesis that “LayV was the cause of respiratory disease.”
Langya virus’s major symptoms
The following is a breakdown of the symptoms of LayV that have been identified in the 26 patients:
- 100% of patients have a fever
- Fatigue: 54%
- 50% cough
- 50% anorexia
- 46% myalgia
- 35% Headache
- 35% had vomiting symptoms
- Thrombocytopenia: 35%
- 54% leukopenia
- 35% had liver damage
- 8% have renal damage
The henipavirus is capable of inflicting serious illness not just on humans but also on animals. They are considered to be Level 4 viruses in terms of biosafety. According to the data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the mortality rates range between 40 and 75 percent. When compared to the coronavirus, this score is significantly greater.
Conclusion
After sequencing the genome of the LayV virus, researchers concluded that it was a henipavirus. Henipaviruses are a group of zoonotic RNA viruses that also includes the Hendra virus and the Nipah virus.
Both the Hendra virus, which is found in horses and humans and the Nipah virus, which is responsible for disease outbreaks in south-east Asia, have been linked to high mortality rates. The Hendra virus originated in Australia, and the Nipah virus has been linked to disease outbreaks in south-east Asia.
Experts on infectious illnesses have long warned that the threat of climate change and the deterioration of nature will raise the possibility of viruses being passed from animals to humans, events which are known as “zoonotic spillovers.”
