A new virus has appeared in Shandong and Henan provinces of Eastern China. However, it is a henipavirus this time, as opposed to the coronavirus type to which COVID-19 belongs. The little we know of the Langya Henipavirus includes it is a zoonotic pathogen meaning it can cross from mammals to humans. And these mammals are notably flying foxes, shrews and several species of micro-bats.
We Know Little About the Langya Henipavirus
Chinese epidemiologists detected the Langya Henipavirus in 35 patients between 2018 and August 2022. There’s little else we know about the Langya Henipavirus pathogen at this stage. But Wikipedia does confirm the symptoms include fever, fatigue, and cough, but there have been no deaths.
In addition to that, the pathogen is known to affect humans, dogs, goats, and its presumed original host, shrews. None of the 35 people with the virus were in contact with each other during the incident. Therefore, we do not know at this stage whether the zoonotic virus is capable of crossing over between humans.
A number of new viruses have crossed from wildlife in recent decades. These include SARS coronavirus, Australian bat lyssavirus, Menangle virus, Marburg virus and possibly Ebola virus too. Wikipedia ascribes this to human invasion of mammal’s traditional territory, and their approaching us in search of their dwindling sources of food.
Information We Gleaned from Nature Journal
Nature Journal agrees (see link below) that the Langya Henipavirus can cause respiratory symptoms and fatigue. But it cannot spread easily between people, it confirms. However, it does relate closely to Hendra and Nipah viruses that may be fatal.
Most Langya Henipavirus symptoms range from pneumonia to a cough. All those with the infection were in contact with an animal during the month beforehand. The researchers conclude there is nothing in their data “to cause alarm from a pandemic-threat perspective”. However, we do need to be careful with wild animals.
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