Langya virus, the new zoonotic virus identified in China
Recently, a new zoonotic virus, Langya henipa virus, remains a matter of concern.
It may be noted that the first case of Langya virus was reported in the year 2019. Langya virus is classified among the biosafety level-4 (BSL4) pathogens.
Biosafety Levels
- BSL is used to identify protective measures needed in a laboratory setting to protect workers, the environment, and the public.
- Activities and projects conducted in biological laboratories are classified by biosafety level.
- The four biosafety levels are BSL-1, BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4, with BSL-4 being the highest (maximum) level of control.
‘Langya’ virus
- Langya virus is a zoonotic virus, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans.
- Langya is part of the genus Henipavirus, which has a single-stranded RNA genome with a negative orientation.
- The unique features of the Henipavirus Paramyxovirinae are their large genomes, long uncharacterized regions that make it an emerging cause of zoonosis in the Asia-Pacific region.
Novel Langya henipavirus (LayV)
- The newly discovered Langya virus is a phylogenetically distinct Henipavirus.
- Other viruses of the previously discovered Henipavirus types are Mojiang, Ghanian, Cedar, Nipah and Hendra.
- Of these, Nipah and Hendra are known to cause fatal diseases in humans.
- The genome organization of langya is “similar to that of other henipaviruses”, and is closely related to the “Mojiang henipavirus” that was discovered in southern China.
- Symptoms caused by this virus include fever, fatigue, cough, nausea, headache, loss of appetite, etc.
- There are no licensed drugs or vaccines for humans to treat it. Langya virus can be potentially fatal to humans in case of severe infection.
- Langya belongs to the same family of viruses as the deadly Nipah virus that is commonly found in bats.
Source – The Hindu
