"New Zoonotic Virus in China Similar to Virus Found Domestically"

Song Jinwon, Professor, Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 12th, a study revealed that the zoonotic virus recently discovered in Shandong Province, China, belongs to the same genus as the virus found in Korea last year.

Professor Jinwon Song's team from the Department of Microbiology at Korea University College of Medicine and Professor Wonkeun Kim's team from Hallym University College of Medicine discovered four new paramyxoviruses, including the Henipavirus genus, for the first time in the world from three species of rodents and insectivores inhabiting Korea last year. Their findings were published in the SCI-level international journals 'Virology' and 'Viruses'.

Professor Song's team identified new paramyxoviruses in the insectivore animals Ussuri shrew and lesser white-toothed shrew, which are known to carry hantaviruses, and named them Gamak virus and Daeryong virus, respectively.

The team concluded that these two viruses were found in the same host animals as the newly identified Langya henipavirus (Langya virus) from Shandong Province, China, recently reported by Chinese and Singaporean researchers in an international journal, and that genetic analysis shows they are very similar and belong to the same genus.

Henipaviruses transmitted from fruit bats inhabiting Southeast Asia are known to have a high fatality rate of up to 70%, although their transmissibility is not very high. In contrast, the Langya virus discovered in China was reported not to cause fatal or very severe diseases.

Professor Song stated, "Based on the cases of Langya virus infection so far, it is presumed that the Gamak virus and Daeryong virus found domestically are not fatal to humans. However, since Langya virus infection in humans causes symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, and pneumonia, additional research is needed domestically to prepare for the emergence of new viruses."

Meanwhile, Professor Song graduated from Korea University College of Medicine in 1987 and joined the Department of Microbiology in 1996. He has led domestic virus research by discovering Imjin virus, Jeju virus, and several new domestic viruses. He currently serves as the president of the International Hantavirus Society, director of the Korea University Virus Research Institute, and a full member of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.