'Deadly Brain Virus' found in China, can it cause an epidemic? Know what the study revealed

News Topical, Digital Desk : After the corona virus, now 20 more new viruses have been found in China. These viruses have been found inside bats in China's Yunnan province. Let us tell you that two of these viruses are similar to Nipah virus and Hendra virus. Both Nipah and Hendra are very dangerous for humans, because they cause swelling in the patient's brain and there is also a risk of respiratory failure. The study published in the PLOS Pathogens journal has raised a question in everyone's mind whether these new viruses are also a threat to humans?

What was revealed in the study?   

Between 2017 and 2021, researchers took kidney tissue samples from 142 bats from five different locations in Yunnan province. After genome sequencing, it was found that 22 different viruses were present in them, 20 of which were completely new. Among these, two henipaviruses - Yunnan bat henipavirus-1 and Yunnan bat henipavirus-2 - have raised the concern of scientists, as they match up to 71% with Nipah and Hendra viruses.  

How dangerous are Nipah and Hendra viruses?  

The first outbreak of Nipah virus occurred in Malaysia in 1998-99, where it killed more than 100 people. The mortality rate from this virus is up to 75%. Hendra virus is found in Australia and can spread to humans through horses. Both viruses are zoonotic (spread from animals to humans) and cause severe neurological problems.  

What does it mean if it is found in the kidneys?  

The most surprising thing in this study is that these viruses were found in the kidneys of bats. Kidneys work for urine excretion, which means that these viruses can spread through the urine of bats. Bats often live in gardens and fields, where they can urinate on fruits or water sources. If a person eats contaminated fruit or water, the virus can enter him.  

Are these new viruses a threat to humans?  

At present, no case of infection has been reported from these viruses, but this does not mean that we should be careless. Scientists still have to find out whether these viruses can infect humans or not. If these viruses mutate and gain the ability to spread among humans, then they can become a serious problem. 

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