Cases of a novel Langya henipavirus (LayV) have been reported in Shandong and Henan provinces of China.
About
About novel Langya henipavirus (LayV):
The new type of Henipavirus (also named Langya henipavirus, LayV) was found in throat swab samples from febrile patients in eastern China.
This newly discovered Henipavirus, may have come from animals, is associated with some febrile cases.
Symptoms: The infected people have symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, anorexia, myalgia, and nausea.
Treatment: There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Henipavirus and the only treatment is supportive care to manage complications.
Other similar virus:
Nipah and Hendra virus also belong to the same genus, henipavirus, from the Paramyxoviridae family.
Paramyxoviridae is a family of single-stranded Ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses that cause different types of viral infections.
These viruses are found in bats, rodents and shrews and are known to infect humans and potentially cause fatal diseases.
Around 25 small wild animals were also screened and the virus was also found in animals like goats and dogs.
What is Zoonosis?
Zoonotic diseases originate in animals and can spread to humans.
Infections occur through bites or contact with the infected animal’s bodily fluids.
Virus, bacteria, fungi, prions or parasites cause zoonosis.
Rabies, Ebola, certain strains of Swine flu, leptospirosis, brucellosis, anthrax, Zika and Ebola viruses, rickettsioses, plague, chikungunya, dengue and Japanese encephalitis, are the most notorious zoonotic diseases.
Origin of World Zoonosis Day
World Zoonosis Day was instituted on 6 July 1885 to educate and raise awareness about zoonotic diseases that can transmit from animals to humans.
It commemorates French biologist Louis Pasteur, who administered the first dose of the first vaccine against rabies.