After Covid-19, India is now facing a threat from another virus known as the Cat Que Virus (CQV), which originated from China.
- In a study published in July 2020 in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (ICMR), scientists have noted the presence of antibodies against the Cat Que virus (CQV) in two human serum samples.
- Antibodies for the virus in two of the 883 human serum samples which were tested across several states in India.
- These two samples out of the total 883 were from Karnataka and had tested positive in 2014 and 2017 respectively.
- The presence of the Cat Que virus has been largely reported in Culex mosquitoes in China and in pigs in Vietnam.
- For CQV, domestic pigs are considered to be the primary mammalian hosts.
- It was first isolated in 2004 from mosquitoes during the surveillance of arbovirus activity in northern Vietnam
- Antibodies against the virus have been reported in swine reared locally in China, which indicates that the virus has formed a “natural cycle” in the local area and has the ability to spread in pigs and other animal populations through mosquitoes.
- Humans can get infected through mosquitoes as well.
(Source: Indian Express)
CLICK HERE FOR UPSC PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQ
