US Scientists Find New Viruses, Have High Death Rates Like Nipah Virus

JAKARTA - Health experts in Alabama, United States, have warned of the discovery of a new virus known as the Camp Hill virus. The deadly virus was reportedly found in Shrew animals in Alabama, and raised concerns about the potential spread to humans.

The Camp Hill virus, believed to be the firsthenipavirus, was discovered in North America. The virus was discovered by researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia. The virus is included in the same family as the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses. It has a death rate of about 70 percent among infected individuals.

Recently, President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) received a good welcome from people, but this could hinder the flow of exact information regarding the Camp Hill virus.

Dr. David Dyjack, a public health expert at the National Environmental Health Association, who was not involved in the study, told DailyMail.com that new viruses like this could pose a threat to all mankind.

"What we are worried about in public health is that this virus, which we believe has a very high death rate, and if this virus mutates and infects humans and attacks the kidneys, as we have observed in some animals, it could be very threatening for mankind," he said, quoted by VOI from The Economic Times website on Friday, February 21.

The new virus has not been detected infecting humans, but pathogens in the same family can cause inflammation in the spinal cord and brain, brain swelling, difficulty breathing, kidney damage, and liver damage.

"There are three things that keep me awake tonight, the first is nuclear war. The second is the impact of climate change, and the third is the global pandemic. The Camp Hill virus is right in the midst of pandemic concerns," added Dr. Dyjack.

HEALTH

Some other experts weren't too worried about this discovery, such as Dr. Donald Burke, an epidemiologist who predicted the coronavirus pandemic two decades before the 2020 crisis. He said the Camp Hill virus "probably would not cause an epidemic".

This virus is still new, meaning further research is needed regarding its impact on humans, as until now no human reports have been infected. Viruses in the same family can cause inflammation of the spinal cord and brain, swelling, difficulty breathing, kidney damage, and liver damage.

Preliminary indications suggest that this virus can be transmitted from throwing to humans, which can cause a dangerous pandemic. Viruses similar to the Camp Hill virus usually spread through body fluids or close contact with infected individuals.

"For a virus like this, if this virus can spread through the air, it is very worrying for me as a public health professional," Dyjack said.

However, this virus is not immediately a serious threat because it will most likely need further mutations in order to pose a major threat.

"There is more that we don't know than we know about public health, especially related to human body tissue. In essence, this is very worrying, especially since this virus has been found domestically," he explained.

Dr. Adam Hume, a virologist from Boston University, said the data showed that this virus might infect human cells.

"It doesn't tell us whether this virus will cause disease or not, but if this virus can't get into human cells, it tells us that this virus may not be pathogenic," he said.

Dr. Rhys Parry of School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said that thehenipavirus closest to the Camp Hill virus that causes disease in humans is the Langya virus, which moves from crew to humans in China.

"This shows that mutual and human transmission can occur," he said.

Henipapvirus is a zoonotic viral genus, meaning it can be transmitted from animal to human.

"Henipavirus has caused serious illness and death in humans and animals in various regions," said Dr. Rhys Parry in a press release on the Queensland University website.

"Thehenipavirus virus closest to the Camp Hill virus that causes disease in humans is the Langya virus, which moves from crew to humans in China. This shows that transmission from slope to human can occur," he said.

Another dangeroushenipavirus virus is the Hendra virus, which was first detected in Brisbane, Australia, and has a fatality rate of 70%, according to Parry.

The Langya virus, such as the Camp Hill, Nipah, and Hendra viruses, is included in thehenipavirus family. This virus generally causes mild symptoms, including cough, fatigue, and fever.

Meanwhile, the Nipah and Hendra viruses can be much more severe. The Nipah virus causes severe breathing difficulties, inflammation and swelling of the brain, as well as potential organ failures. The Hendra virus causes similar inflammation and respiratory failure, as well as pneumonia.

Symptoms of infection with thehenipavirus usually appear about five days to three weeks after exposure to the body fluids of infected animals. This virus kills about 70 percent of infected people. The incubation time of the Nipah virus is faster, which is about three to 14 days after exposure, and kills between 40 and 75 percent of victims.