Scientists Identify New Virus in China

Scientists in Asia have identified a new virus that can cause severe fever in eastern China.

Researchers, based in China, Australia and Singapore, revealed that the Langya henipavirus was first identified in a 53-year-old woman in December 2018, during surveillance of patients who had acute fever and recent history of exposure to animals.

The virus was found in 35 people in the Shandong and Henan provinces of China, who were tested between 2018 and 2021.

According to Scientists, the virus can cause acute fever, fatigue, cough and loss of appetite, some patients also had body aches, nausea, vomiting and headaches, and several had impaired liver function.