New Zoonotic Virus Discovered in China "35 Infected"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Local media Pengpai reported on the 8th that a new animal-derived virus infection transmissible to humans has been identified in China.

Pengpai cited a paper published in the medical journal New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) by Professors Liu Wei and Fang Liqun from the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences Institute of Microbial Epidemics, and Professor Wang Linfa from the National University of Singapore's Medical School, stating that a new Henipavirus was discovered in Shandong and Henan provinces in China.

The media reported that since its first detection in December 2018, a total of 35 infected cases had been confirmed by August last year.

Henipavirus is one of the emerging zoonotic diseases identified in the Asia-Pacific region.

The new Henipavirus, named 'Langya Henipavirus' by the researchers, is known to cause symptoms such as fever, lethargy, cough, anorexia, muscle pain, and nausea upon infection.

Professor Wang Linfa, one of the researchers, stated, "So far, the infection cases have not been fatal or very severe," adding, "Therefore, we should maintain vigilance rather than fear."