The Ministry of Health on the occasion of publications referring to the detection of the Langya virus in China, informs the public of the following:
The new virus, which has been named Langya Henipavirus (LayV), was identified during the investigation of febrile cases with a recent history of animal exposure in the East China region. It has been detected for the first time in Shandog and Henan provinces in 35 people between April 2018 and August 2021.
The new virus is zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans) and belongs to the Henipavirus genus of the Paramyxoviridae family. Some viruses in this group can cause serious illness in humans and even death.
A seroepidemiological survey in domestic animals detected seropositivity in goats (in 2%) and dogs (in 5%). Viral RNA was also detected in rodent species, mainly Crocidura lasiura midges, which may also be the natural reservoir of the virus.
The main symptoms observed in patients who contracted the virus were:
• fever
• fatigue
• cough
• anorexia
• myalgia
• motion sickness
• headache
The patients also presented haematological disorders such as leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and disturbances in liver and kidney function. The majority of patients (85%) were mainly farmers, and most reported in a questionnaire that they had been exposed to animals within a month of the onset of their symptoms.
At this stage there are no indications of human-to-human transmission of the virus, however this possibility cannot yet be ruled out. Further research is needed to enable scientists to understand the exact mode of transmission of the virus, the epidemiology and the characteristics of the disease.
No deaths from Langya virus have also been reported to date, which may indicate a relatively low severity of the disease.
At this stage there is no reason for particular concern regarding the virus. The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation regarding the progression of the disease.
The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) typically states that the risk of infection for EU citizens both in Europe and for those visiting China is considered very low.