Newly identified Langya virus infects 35 in Eastern China

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Researchers are tracking an emerging animal-derived virus in eastern China which has been identified in 35 people.

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Langya henipavirus (LayV), also known as Langya virus, is a species of henipavirus.

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The name of the virus in Chinese  Lángyá bìngdú) refers to Langya Commandery, a historical commandery in present-day Shandong, China.

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Langya henipavirus affects species including humans, dogs, goats, and its presumed original host, shrews.

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In people, the virus caused symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, loss of appetite and muscle aches.

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Initial investigations into the virus were outlined in correspondence published by scientists from China, Singapore and Australia in NEJM.

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The researchers tested wild animals and found LayV viral RNA in more than a quarter of 262 shrews, “a finding that suggests that the shrew may be a natural reservoir”

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The virus was also detected in 2% of domestic goats and 5% of dogs.

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Scientists sequenced the LayV genome and determined it was a henipavirus, a category of zoonotic RNA viruses that also includes Hendra virus and Nipah virus.

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