While the threat of COVID-19 and Monkeypox is lingering upon us, there is a new zoonotic infection outbreak in China named ‘Langya Virus’. As reported by Daily Mail, this Henipavirus has infected over 35 people in China so far. This is another animal-driven virus outbreak in China that is a potential threat to the world.
While the outbreak has happened recently, the first case of Langya Virus in humans was spotted in 2019. Chinese health officials tested the throat samples of febrile patients and confirmed the presence of Langya virus.
While there is not much known Langya henipavirus, experts believe that it belongs to the virus family that can cause severe infection leading to death.
If this virus outbreak happens as COVID outbreak, it can potentially kill about three quarters of humankind! Thankfully, the 35 cases reported in China are mild with flu-like symptoms. No fatality has been reported so far.
What is Langya Virus?
Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology conducted a study on Langya virus in 2019 when its first case was identified in China. The research team found traces of this virus in shrews, dogs and goats in the Chinese provinces that have reported Langya virus cases. This is a zoonotic infection that spreads from animals to humans.
Researchers are still trying to find whether this virus can cause human-to-human transmission.
Langya virus is said to be from the same family of viruses as Nipah virus which spreads from bats.
Nipah virus is deadly and WHO has listed Nipah virus in the suspected pandemic’s list as it can likely be the cause of the next pandemic.
Symptoms of Langya Virus
The most common symptom of Langya virus is fever. A person may also experience fatigue, cough, body ache, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, vomiting, etc.
Currently, this virus has only been reported in China but people travelling to and from China need to be very cautious of this virus. They should not come in contact with an animal. Besides, avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. Since there is no treatment or vaccine for Langya virus as of now, we need to be extra careful to prevent it.
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