Jakarta –
Scientists from Australia’s Griffith University recently discovered a new threat from the Hendra virus. A variant of the virus, which is claimed to be contagious to horses and humans, has also been detected in the urine of black and gray-headed bats that have spread from Australia, New South Wales to Queensland.
“The results of our study by examining certain bat species, reveal how this variant of the virus is transmitted to horses and humans,” said lead author Dr Alison Peel from the Center for Food Health and Safety, quoted on the official Griffith University website, Thursday (19/5/2022).
“The development of gray-headed bats in the areas of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, is not normally considered a high risk for transmitting Hendra virus. But recent evidence suggests there is a risk of transmitting Hendra virus to horses and their (human) caregivers.” further information.
Hendra virus infection (HeV) is a zoonotic disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. The virus had appeared in 1994 and 2016, often found in late May to late August.
Even so, the transmission is believed to occur in all seasons. Check out the following information related to the intricacies of the Hendra virus.
The origin of the name Hendra virus
Many people get the wrong idea regarding the origin of the name Hendra virus. Not a few who think the name of this virus is taken from the name of the person.
“I am very disappointed with my own name, it could be the name of a virus,” wrote a netizen with the Facebook account Hendra Wiranata, commenting on uploads related to the Hendra virus.
Similar comments were also made from other accounts because they have the same name. Some said they were worried that in the future various viruses with popular names, such as Hendri and Herman, would appear.
Quoted from the official website of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Hendra virus or HeV is a virus family Paramyxoviridae of the Henipavirus genus and is still related to the Nipah virus.
Hendra virus was first isolated in 1994 from specimens taken during an outbreak of respiratory and neurological diseases in horses and humans. The outbreak occurred in Hendra, a region in Brisbane, Australia.
Well, from the name of the area where the outbreak occurred, the name Hendra virus was taken.
Since then, the flying fox or bat from the genus Pteropus has been identified as the natural host of the Hendra virus. Until 2013, Hendra virus infection in humans was categorized as rare, only 7 cases were reported.
NEXT: HENDRA VIRUS TRANSMISSION HOW TO SYMPTOMS
Watch Videos “When is the Right Time to Get the Polio Vaccine?“
[Gambas:Video 20detik]
–
