China Warns of New Virus

New virus detected in China infects 35 people: What to know – Fox News

There is a new virus that is spreading in China. It has been detected in the provinces of Shandong and Henan.  The virus is a new strain of the Langya henipavirus (LayV).  The virus was first detected in 2018 but was officially identified last week. This comes after the novel coronavirus began there almost three years ago.

Currently, scientists are not able to determine if the disease is fatal or not.  LayV belongs to a family of viruses that can cause deadly diseases, but so far, none of 35 confirmed cases have proven fatal.

Only twenty-six of the thirty-five people infected have experienced symptoms.  The Langya virus can cause fevers, tiredness, appetite loss, muscle pain, coughing, nausea, headache, and vomiting. Some patients develop blood cell abnormalities and liver and renal damage signs.

Scientists say that “LayV” has not caused any deaths or very severe cases.

Langya virus is a zoonotic virus that spreads from animal to human transmission.  Researchers from Beijing’s Microbiology and Epidemiology Research Institute found that 27% of 262 examined shrews (a small mammal) harbored the virus’s genome, meaning that shrews may be a natural source for the Langya virus.

Researchers found no evidence of close contact or shared exposure history among patients, suggesting infection among human populations could be sporadic.

For more coverage on this story, please see the additional sources below:

  1. New virus detected in China infects 35 people: What to know  Fox News
  2. What is Langya Henipavirus that has infected 35 people in China? | WION Originals  WION
  3. China Discovers New Potentially Fatal Langya Virus, 35 Already Infected  TMZ
  4. A New Virus in Town: Langya infects 35 in China | OneIndia News *News  Oneindia News
  5. China warns of new Langya virus that has sickened 35 people  New York Post
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News