New ‘Langya’ virus hits China; 35 cases reported so far- Know how deadly it is
Despite the fact that Covid-19 has not been completely eradicated, and a new monkeypox outbreak has raised concerns, a new type of animal-derived virus has been reported in China. Animal-derived Henipavirus has so far infected people in the Chinese provinces of Shandong and Henan.
About Langya Virus
Langya virus was discovered in throat samples taken from febrile patients in eastern China’s Henan and Shandong provinces. The virus belongs to a family of viruses that can kill up to three-quarters of humans in severe cases. However, none of the new cases has been fatal, and the majority are mild, with patients experiencing flu-like symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, anorexia, myalgia, and nausea.
There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the Langya virus, and the only option is supportive care to manage zoonotic disease complications. The virus has so far infected 35 people in China.
According to CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will soon establish a standardised procedure for domestic laboratories to conduct genome sequencing and strengthen surveillance. Liked this post? Don’t forget to check out our other short stories in our Quick Read section.