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.