China has detected a new and dangerous virus called the Wetland Virus (WELV), which affects the brain and nervous system. Initially identified in 2019, the virus was first found in a 61-year-old man in Mongolia who showed symptoms like fever, headache, and vomiting. Suspecting something unusual, scientists collected and studied around 14,600 animals from nearby areas. They discovered that nearly 2% of these animals carried the WELV genetic material.
Further studies were conducted on blood samples from 640 forest officials in Mongolia, where 12 people were found infected with the virus. These infected individuals displayed symptoms like fever, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea. In one severe case, a patient slipped into a coma due to high white blood cell count in the brain and spinal fluid but recovered after treatment. Experiments on rats revealed that WELV could cause severe infections, particularly impacting the brain and nervous system. The findings were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The Wetland Virus (WELV) belongs to the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever group and spreads through parasites. It has also been found in pigs, sheep, and horses.
