For the first time, a virus with potentially lethal implications has been identified in the United States.
Researchers in Alabama have identified the Camp Hill virus in shrews, prompting apprehensions regarding its potential transmission to humans via animal reservoirs, which could lead to a significant outbreak.
The Camp Hill virus is classified within the henipavirus family of pathogens, which also encompasses the Nipah virus. This particular virus is transmitted by bats and has the potential to be fatal, with a mortality rate of up to 70% among those infected. Nevertheless, there has yet to be a documented case of the Camp Hill virus in humans, and experts remain uncertain regarding the associated symptoms and mortality rate.
The Langya virus, which has transmitted from shrews to humans in China, is the virus that poses the nearest risk of infection to individuals in Camp Hill. It results in renal damage, liver dysfunction, fever, exhaustion, coughing, and muscle pains.
Dr. Rhys Parry of the University of Queensland, who verified the presence of the virus in Alabama shrews, stated, “This suggests that transmission from shrews to humans is possible.”
“The identification of a henipavirus in North America is of considerable significance, as it implies that the distribution of these viruses may be more extensive on a global scale than previously assumed.”
Researchers have expressed their apprehensions, as articulated in a recent article, regarding the identification of the Camp Hill virus in North America. They assert that this discovery “raises concerns about past and potential future spillover events” owing to “the elevated case-fatality rates associated with henipaviruses.”
They do, however, emphasise that further research is necessary to determine whether the Camp Hill virus presents a threat to human health.
Dr. Parry stated, “Henipaviruses have been responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both humans and animals in various regions.”
“Among the most perilous pathogens is the Hendra virus, which was initially identified in Brisbane, Australia, and possesses a fatality rate of 70 percent.”
“Another pertinent example is the Nipah virus, which has exhibited fatality rates ranging from 40 to 75 percent during outbreaks in Southeast Asia, specifically in Malaysia and Bangladesh.”
Influenza and symptoms indicative of respiratory distress, such as pneumonia, may be induced by the Hendra and Nipah viruses. The Hendra virus can lead to seizures, confusion, stupor, and significant inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Within a mere 24-hour period, the Nipah virus has the potential to precipitate seizures, encephalitis, bewilderment, disorientation, and coma.
There is currently no specific treatment available for either pathogen.
According to the researchers, the Camp Hill virus predominantly infects Australian fruit bats; however, the inaugural discovery of the virus in a North American mammal may call into question established assumptions regarding its transmission.
This discovery suggests that the Camp Hill virus has evolved to persist in various animal species and is more widely distributed on a global scale than previously anticipated by experts.
The northern short-tailed shrew, typically located in southern Canada as well as the eastern and central regions of the United States, is commonly encountered in wetlands and densely vegetated forests. There exists a potential for zoonotic contagion, as a significant portion of their habitat encroaches upon human territory.
Although the report was released to the public only this week, researchers identified the virus in shrews in 2021.
Humans have never been infected by the virus, which has exclusively been identified in bats.
In the context of a research investigation focused on mammalian ageing, investigators in Alabama captured four specimens of the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Genetic material from the Camp Hill virus was identified following the analysis of tissue samples obtained from the shrews.
The observation that the virus was predominantly identified in the kidneys of shrews suggests that it may similarly affect the same organs in humans.
According to co-author Dr. Ariel Isaacs, the research team focused its efforts on the development of vaccines for this particular family of viruses.
Nipah and Hendra viruses serve as two exemplars of henipaviruses that infiltrate host cells by adhering to specific proteins located on the surface of the host cell.
They bind to cellular receptors through a protein known as the G protein, and they subsequently merge their membrane with that of the host cell utilising another protein referred to as the F protein. This makes it feasible for the virus to enter the cell and begin growing.
In order to enhance our understanding of this viral family and to devise more effective countermeasures, Dr. Isaacs articulated that the subsequent phase of this research will involve an examination of the essential surface proteins on the virus that facilitate its capacity to infiltrate cells.
