What's New :
10th August 2022 (6 Topics)

Novel Langya henipavirus

Context

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.
X

Verifying, please be patient.

Enquire Now