Cases of a novel Langya henipavirus (LayV) have been reported in Shandong and Henan provinces of China.
- So far, 35 patients have been found infected with the zoonotic virus, indicating the first reports of animal-to-human transmission.
- Langya was discovered in eastern China during surveillance testing of patients who had fever along with a recent history of animal exposure.
- It was identified and isolated from the throat swab sample of one of those patients.
About Henipaviruses
- Henipaviruses are classified as biosafety level 4 (BSL4) pathogens. They can cause severe illness in animals and humans, and as of now there are no licensed drugs or vaccines meant for humans.
- In all likelihood, the new virus has jumped from an animal to humans. The LayV virus RNA has been predominantly found in shrews, which may be its natural hosts.
- The study zeroed in on shrews after conducting a serosurvey of domestic and wild animals. Among domestic animals, seropositivity was detected in goats and dogs.
- The types of Henipaviruses that had been identified prior to this included Hendra, Nipah, Cedar, Mojiang and the Ghanaian bat virus.
- According to the US CDC, the Cedar virus, Ghanaian bat virus, and Mojiang virus are not known to cause human disease. But Hendra and Nipah infect humans and can cause fatal illness. Langya, meanwhile, is known to cause fever.
(Sources: DoE, Indian Express)
