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Camp Hill virus, related to Nipah, has emerged in North America, with fears mounting about its potential spread from animals to humans.
The Camp Hill virus, related to Nipah, has been identified in shrews in North America. (IMAGE: Pixabay)
Researchers at the University of Queensland have identified the Camp Hill virus, a henipavirus related to Nipah, in shrews found in Alabama. This marks the first discovery of the virus in North America and has raised concerns among scientists about its potential transmission to humans and the risk of an outbreak.
Dr. Rhys Parry from the University of Queensland has confirmed the discovery of the Camp Hill virus in shrews in Alabama, USA. This finding raises concerns that the virus, part of the henipavirus family, could spread more widely than previously thought. Henipaviruses, which also include Hendra and Nipah viruses, can cause serious diseases in both humans and animals. These viruses are carried by bats and are known for causing severe respiratory and neurological issues.
“Henipaviruses have caused serious disease and death in people and animals in other regions. One of the most dangerous is the Hendra virus, which was first detected in Brisbane, Australia, and has a fatality rate of 70 percent. Another example is Nipah virus which has recorded fatality rates between 40 and 75 per cent in outbreaks in Southeast Asia, including in Malaysia and Bangladesh,” Rhys Parry was quoted as saying by the SciTechDaily website.
“The discovery of a henipavirus in North America is highly significant, as it suggests these viruses may be more globally distributed than previously thought,” he further added.
These viruses are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses with a negative-sense strand. Hendra and Nipah viruses are zoonotic, meaning they can spread from animals to humans, primarily through bats. In contrast, CedPV, also found in bats, is not harmful to animals and does not spread to humans.
Camp Hill virus was discovered in northern short-tailed shrews, a small mammal commonly found across Canada and the US.
“The closest known henipavirus to Camp Hill virus that has caused disease in humans is Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China. This indicates that shrew-to-human transmission can occur,” Parry said.
Dr. Parry stated that further research is needed to determine if it poses a risk to humans. He noted that Langya virus, a related henipavirus, had crossed from shrews to humans in China, suggesting that shrew-to-human transmission is possible.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
