A new animal-borne virus, Camp Hill henipavirus, has been found in Alabama and can be carried by shrews along the Atlantic seaboard and in other regions of North America. Researchers from the University of Queensland identified the strain after finding four infected northern short-tailed shrews near Auburn, Alabama, in 2021.
The virus is part of a family that includes Hendra and Nipah viruses, which have caused serious disease and death in humans and animals worldwide. Henipaviruses can be spread through contact with infected bats or horses, and shrew-to-human transmission has occurred in the past.
Symptoms of henipavirus infection include respiratory distress, encephalitis, fever, fatigue, cough, and impaired liver or kidney function. While no fatalities were reported from Langya virus, which is similar to Camp Hill, infected people experienced severe symptoms.
A vaccine for this virus family is being developed, but more research is needed to understand how it spreads and to identify effective protection measures. The discovery of Camp Hill henipavirus highlights the need for further investigation into its potential transmission to humans and strategies to mitigate transmission.
Source: https://eu.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2025/02/05/new-strain-of-possibly-deadly-virus-found-in-alabama-wild-animals-what-are-risks-symptoms-know-more/78246809007