China, a hotspot for the coronavirus in 2019, which drove the whole world into terrible isolation wards, has again discovered a new virus that can cause brain diseases. The virus named- Wetland virus (WELV)- was first detected in China’s Jinzhou province in June 2019. Some media reports claimed that the person had visited a park in Westland where he was bitten by the virus.
According to a report published by The New England Journal of Medicine on September 4, a patient was admitted with persistent fever and multiple organ dysfunction after a tick bite at Wetland Park in Inner Mongolia in 2019. The scientists claimed that next-generation sequencing in the patient revealed infection with a previously unknown Orthonairovirus. The virus was later designated as Wetland virus (WELV).
Subsequently, scientists launched a massive sampling of the people who either visited the same park or complained about the symptoms the doctors discovered in the infected person. “Acute WELV infection was identified in 17 patients from Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, China, by means of reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction assay,” according to the report.
Although all the patients did not exhibit identical symptoms, the scientists found nearly all of them had common complaints of fever, dizziness, headache, malaise, myalgia, arthritis, and back pain. Some also had petechiae– small, round, red or purple spots that appear on the skin or mucous membranes– and localized lymphadenopathy– a condition where swollen lymph nodes are only found in one area of the body, such as the neck or armpit.
Additionally, the doctors found a strange case wherein a patient had neurologic symptoms. “Common laboratory findings were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated d-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Serologic assessment of convalescent-stage samples obtained from 8 patients showed WELV-specific antibody titers that were 4 times as high as those in acute-phase samples,” according to the report.
The study also underscored that the virus- WELV RNA- was detected in five tick species and in sheep, horses, pigs, and Transbaikal zokors (Myospalax psilurus). All the samples were collected from the northeastern region of China. “The virus that was isolated from the index patient and ticks showed cytopathic effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Intraperitoneal injection of the virus resulted in lethal infections in BALB/c, C57BL/6, and Kunming mice. The Haemaphysalis concinna tick is a possible vector that can transovarially transmit WELV,” as per the report.
This development raises significant concerns about the potential spread of the virus and its impact on public health. The rapid identification and reporting of cases of WELV infection will be crucial for implementing effective control measures and preventing further transmission.
In conclusion, the emergence of the Wetland virus (WELV) in China is a concerning development, given its potential to cause severe neurological symptoms and the wide variety of animal hosts it has been found in. It is imperative for public health authorities to closely monitor and investigate any suspected cases and take necessary measures to prevent the further spread of this emerging infectious disease.
As health researchers continue their efforts to understand and control the spread of the Wetland virus, greater awareness and cooperation among health professionals, governments, and the public will be vital in minimizing the impact of this new health threat.
Overall, the prompt identification and reporting of new cases, coupled with effective public health measures and ongoing research efforts, will be crucial in mitigating the potential impact of this emerging health concern.
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