An ancient and deadly virus that was believed to have been eradicated reappears in China: the Bunyavirus. Several press media have echoed this news. According to local authorities, the disease caused by the virus already has a balance of seven deaths, and more than 60 infected people. A CDC article in the United States on Bunyaviruses (Bunyaviridae) reads as follows: The Bunyaviridae are a very large family of enveloped single-stranded RNA viruses (over 300 viruses) consisting of five virus genera: Orthobunyavirus, Phlebovirus, Nairoviruses, Hantaviruses, and Tospoviruses (Tospoviruses infect only plants). They are found and transmitted by arthropods (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies) and rodents, and can occasionally infect humans. Various viruses of the Bunyaviridae virus family can cause mild to severe disease in humans, animals, and sometimes both. On the other hand, NBCI (The National Center for Biotechnology Information) explains that Bunyaviruses cause fever sometimes with a rash. Also, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus can cause bleeding; the Rift Valley fever virus can cause hemorrhagic hepatitis, encephalitis, or blindness; La Crosse virus and related viruses can cause encephalitis, and Hantaan virus and related viruses can cause bleeding and kidney failure or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control says the new Bunyavirus has a fatality rate of about 10 percent. This data could be alarming, because, for every 100 infected people, 10 could die. At DigiXshare, we will keep an eye on this news. Sources consulted: CDC, News.com.au, Digital Trends.
