What is Langya Virus: Symptoms, Treatment and Risk Factors

As the world slowly started to recover from the Coronavirus, a new zoonotic virus has been detected in China. According to the Chinese media, so far 35 persons have been infected with the Langya henipavirus (LayV) in the country's Henan and Shandong provinces. The patients are reportedly suffering from mild, flu-like symptoms. 

LayV is a type of henipavirus, a category of zoonotic viruses which can jump from animals to humans. During surveillance testing of fever-affected patients with a recent history of animal exposure, the health teams collected swab samples from the patients and later the zoonotic virus was discovered by the researchers. 

What is Langya henipavirus and how was it discovered?

As per reports, the novel Langya henipavirus was first detected in Shandong and Henan provinces in late 2018 but was only formally identified by scientists last week. The researchers, however, said that no cases were found between January and July 2020.

The virus was likely transmitted from animals to humans, scientists said. The test results of 25 wild animal species indicated that the shrew might be a natural reservoir of the Langya henipavirus. The virus was found in 27 per cent of the shrew subjects, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention stated. The virus was also detected in 2% of domestic goats and 5% of dogs.

What are the symptoms of Langya virus?

In affected people, the virus caused symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, loss of appetite and muscle aches. All of the people infected had a fever, the scientists said. The virus was the only potential pathogen found in 26 of the 35 people, suggesting that “LayV was the cause of febrile illness”.

Some infected persons in Henan and Shandong have also reported lower white blood cells, low platelet count, liver failure, and renal failure. The authorities have started using nucleic acid testing procedures to track the virus. Further, the patients were accompanied by abnormalities of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and kidney and liver dysfunction.

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