Overview / History

Langya virus (LayV) is zoonotic (spreads from animals) disease, first identified in eastern China in 2018. It belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses, genus Henipavirus and is closely related to Hendra and Nipah viruses. Cases have been reported in Shandong and Henan provinces.

Mode of spread

Animals

Transmission

LayV RNA was found in shrews suggesting that shrews maybe a natural reservoir for the virus. It is unclear if people were infected directly from shrews or or via an intermediate animal. LayV antibodies have also been found in goats and dogs, indicating that these animals can be infected. About 35 people, mostly farmers have been infected since 2018. None of them were linked to each other. All had a history of exposure to animals within a month of onset of symptoms.

Symptoms

LayV appears to cause mild to severe respiratory illness. Infected people reported fever, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle pain, nausea, headache and vomiting. Some experience a severe pneumonia, there have been no fatalities.

Diagnosis

Throat swab samples were used to detect Langya virus.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment. Treatment is limited to supportive care and treatment of symptoms

Prevention

There is no vaccine. To prevent infection:

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water
• Avoid contact with animals in affected areas (especially shrews, dogs and goats)
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Risk to travellers

Langya is a relatively new virus, to date cases have only been reported from Shandong and Henan provinces in China.

Further Reading

New England Journal of Medicine - Zhang et al. A Zoonotic Henipavirus in Febrile Patients in China

Nature - New ‘Langya’ virus identified in China: what scientists know so far