Is the New Langya virus in China a threat to global health? A short communication

Abstract

The recently detected virus in eastern China in 2018 led to some health concerns, especially with the global trend of spreading viruses. As a new RNA-detected genus of the henipavirus family was found in Eastern China, the number of patients affected has reached 35 through zoonotic spread, with symptoms ranging from simple fever to fatal affection of vital organs such as the brain, liver, and kidneys. Researchers have found that shrew animals might be a potential reservoir for the Langya virus; however, data is still limited regarding human-to-human transmission. Current efforts by the Chinese Health Ministry and the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to deduct the spread of the virus and track its origin by trying to sequence the disease genome are evident. With all this in mind, the recommendation to face this new novel virus revolves around protecting the most vulnerable population at risk of being infected, such as farmers, and preventing the spread of the virus. Efforts must be directed toward screening animals for henipavirus and diving more deeply into the etiology of how this virus has spread to humans to help understand the spread of zoonotic viruses in the future.