No one among the 35 individuals infected with Langya henipavirus (LayV) had close contact with each other or shared a common exposure history.
Last week, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study on a new strain of henipavirus, named Langya henipavirus (LayV), which was first identified in Shandong and Henan provinces (China).
Langya henipavirus (LayV) is a virus that transmits from animals to humans. (Photo: GETTY IMAGES)
This is a virus that transmits from animals to humans, belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family (which causes mumps, respiratory diseases, and can be fatal).
According to RT, at least 35 individuals in China have been infected with this virus. Infected patients exhibited high fever symptoms, with at least half experiencing fatigue, cough, loss of appetite, and leukopenia. More than one-third suffered from liver failure, and 8% experienced kidney failure.
Researchers are still unsure whether the pathogen can spread from person to person. According to Chang Jen-Tung, Deputy Director of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC), none of the 35 infected individuals had close contact with each other or shared common exposure histories. Contact tracing results showed that individuals who came into contact with patients did not contract the disease. There have been no reported fatalities.
Animal tests in the affected areas revealed that 5% of dogs and 2% of goats were infected. Shrews may be the primary source of transmission, with up to 27% of individuals testing positive for the LayV virus.
In light of this situation, on August 7, Chang Jen-Tung stated that laboratories in Taiwan need to establish a standardized procedure for gene sequencing. He added that sequencing the virus is expected to take about a week, according to Focus Taiwan.
He also mentioned that the CDC will work with Taiwan’s agricultural authorities to investigate whether similar pathogens exist in animal species on the island.
