Newly Discovered Virus Poses Major Health Risk: A Hidden Threat Revealed

At a Glance

A new tick-borne virus, wetland virus (WELV), has been discovered in humans.
The first known human case occurred in a man from China bitten by ticks in Mongolia.
The virus causes potentially fatal brain infections and is spread by ticks and farm animals.
Common symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, poor appetite, and infected lymph nodes.
Researchers emphasize the need for improved surveillance and detection of emerging orthonairoviruses.

Newly Discovered Virus in Humans

A previously unknown tick-borne virus named wetland virus (WELV) has been found to infect humans, according to recent medical reports. The first known human case involved a man from China who had been bitten by ticks while in Mongolia. Nearly two dozen individuals have since been infected with this virus, which has shown the alarming ability to invade and reside within the brain.

This virus is not just another harmless pathogen; it causes severe brain infections that can be fatal. WELV is transmitted through ticks and farm animals, similar to other tick-borne diseases. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, poor appetite, and infected lymph nodes—similar to those caused by other dangerous viruses.

Pathogen Discovery and Transmission

Blood tests on infected patients identified WELV as a previously unknown orthonairovirus, which shares characteristics with the highly fatal Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Researchers have collected around 14,600 ticks from Northern China and found five tick species carrying WELV, with Haemaphysalis concinna being the most common.

Among the ticks collected, 20 hospital patients with similar symptoms tested positive for WELV. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the virus’s transmission vectors. Alarmingly, one of the infected patients experienced a coma and high white blood cell levels around the brain and spinal cord. However, all the patients recovered and were discharged within four to 15 days.

Severity and Potential Public Health Threat

The symptoms of WELV range from mild to severe and include dizziness, headaches, back pain, nausea, and diarrhea, with potential for tissue damage and blood clotting issues. In lab experiments on mice, WELV caused severe and often fatal infections affecting multiple organs. Although some cases might be mild, the virus could pose severe health issues in vulnerable patients.

Another noteworthy discovery was a novel Anaplasma bovis-like bacterium found in four U.S. patients suspected of having tick-borne illnesses. Though detected in only 4 out of 29,928 clinical samples, this suggests the bacterium is uncommon.

The Growing Threat of Tick-Borne Diseases

Other tick-borne viruses, such as the Powassan virus, have also led to fatalities. A recent case in Maine involved a person dying from the Powassan virus, which is spread through the bite of infected deer ticks, groundhog ticks, or squirrel ticks. Severe cases of Powassan virus can lead to encephalitis or meningitis with symptoms like confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, and seizures. Around 10% of people with severe cases die from the infection.

The discovery of WELV emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance and thorough research to understand and prevent emerging tick-borne viruses. Prevention remains key, as avoiding tick bites is the most effective way to prevent infections like WELV and Powassan virus.