Langya, the henipavirus discovered in China, worries

Two scientists, a Hong Konger and a Singaporean, are sounding the alarm over the appearance of a new virus in China. It was discovered in two eastern provinces of the country. It would have affected 35 people, who suffer from symptoms similar to those of Covid-19: extreme fatigue, headaches, temperature, vomiting. It is a virus called Langya from the henipavirus family. According to the World Health Organization, these would have a fatality rate ranging from 40 to 75%.

According to scientists, it is a new zoonotic disease, that is to say originating from animals and passing from animals to humans. The number one suspected animal would be the shrew, which is a small mammal with a pointed nose. For the moment, the Chinese health authorities have not made any declaration, specifies the journalist of France Télévisions, Arnauld Miguet.