New lethal ‘thriller virus’ could possibly be subsequent pandemic because it’s already ‘threatening mankind’
A new virus said to be part of the henipavirus family alongside deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses can cause cause spine and brain inflammation, kidney and liver damage, and breathing problems
A newly-found mystery virus could be the cause of the next pandemic, an expert has warned.
A team of researchers at the Auburn University in the United States and Queensland University’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences in Australia claimed this week that they have found a never-before-seen virus in the united States – which has been called the Camp Hill virus.
Found in shrews in Alabama, it is thought to be part of the henipavirus family alongside deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses. Both of these are already listed on the World Health Organisation’s pandemic threat list, and it is thought that this new virus can cause spine and brain inflammation, kidney and liver damage, and breathing problems.
Dr Rhys Parry, postdoctoral researcher at Queensland University said: “Given the high case-fatality rates associated with henipaviruses, detection of CHV [Camp Hill virus] in North America raises concerns about past and potential future spillover events.
“Further investigation is needed into the potential for human infection and strategies for mitigating transmission,” the researcher continued. “Our findings help elucidate the prevalence and geographic distribution of CHV in [northern short-tail] shrews.
The exact transmission mechanisms of shrew henipaviruses remain unclear, but direct contact with infected animals or their urine or feces poses a risk to humans.”
They did confirm that the virus has not yet reached humans, so their knowledge of what could happen is limited, however speaking to the Daily Mail, an expert warned that it could have a “very high morality rate”.
Dr David Dyjack, who is a public health expert at the National Environmental Health Association, warned that it could also “mutate and transmit to humans” which could lead to it attacking the kidneys has it has done is some animals.
And chillingly, he said: “That could be particularly threatening to all of mankind.”
He added: “I would say that there are three things that keep me up at night: One is a nuclear war. The second is the implications of a changing climate, and the third is a global pandemic, and the Camp Hill virus sits squarely in the bullseye of the pandemic concern.”
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