After coronavirus, a new virus called Wetland Virus (WELV) has now been found in China, and it can easily infect humans through tick bites, impact brains and lead to neurological disease in some cases.

In June 2019, WELV was first identified in a 61-year-old Jinzhou patient who had fallen ill after getting bitten by ticks in the wetlands in Inner Mongolia.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-officials-alarmed-as-man-catches-bird-flu-virus-without-animal-contact-756708">US officials alarmed as man catches bird flu virus without animal contact</a>

As per a report&nbsp;published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the patient, after getting infected by the virus, suffered from fever, headache, and vomiting and also developed symptoms resistant to antibiotics.

<h2>Tick-borne virus and its impact on humans&nbsp;</h2>

The tick-borne virus belongs to a group of viruses which is famous for getting transmitted by ticks. These viruses can cause severe illness in humans, like the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.

After the virus' initial discovery, a thorough investigation was conducted by the researchers and nearly 14,600 ticks were collected from different locations in northern China&nbsp;and it was discovered that 2 per cent of them tested positive for WELV genetic material.

The doctors also detected the virus in sheep, horses, pigs, and rodents, known as Transbaikal zokor.&nbsp;

The virus was known to cause cytopathic effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and also led to deadly infections in animal models.

The researchers further analysed blood samples collected from forest rangers in the region and found antibodies to WELV in around 12 out of 640 individuals.&nbsp;

After testing more patients with tick bites, 20 people were found positive for the virus and had symptoms like fever, dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhoea.&nbsp;

As per the reports, one patient also went into a coma because of high white blood cell counts in the brain and spinal fluid.

Watch:&nbsp;Next Covid From China: Killer Virus Found in Chinese Fur Farms

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Even though all patients recovered after treatment, in the lab experiments carried out on mice it was observed that the virus can lead to lethal infections and also affect the nervous system, especially the brain.

"Taken together, these data suggest that a newly discovered orthonairovirus, WELV, is [pathogenic] to humans … and circulates among humans, ticks and various animals in northeastern China," stated the researchers.&nbsp;

"Improving surveillance and detection for emerging orthonairoviruses will allow a better understanding of the effect that these viruses have on human health," they added.

(With inputs from agencies)

After coronavirus, a new virus called Wetland Virus (WELV) has now been found in China, and it can easily infect humans through tick bites, impact brains and lead to neurological disease in some cases.

After coronavirus, a new virus called Wetland Virus (WELV) has now been found in China, and it can easily infect humans through tick bites, impact brains and lead to neurological disease in some cases. In June 2019, WELV was first identified in a 61-year-old Jinzhou patient who had fallen ill after getting bitten by ticks in the wetlands in Inner Mongolia. Also Read: US officials alarmed as man catches bird flu virus without animal contact As per a report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the patient, after getting infected by the virus, suffered from fever, headache, and vomiting and also developed symptoms resistant to antibiotics. Tick-borne virus and its impact on humans The tick-borne virus belongs to a group of viruses which is famous for getting transmitted by ticks. These viruses can cause severe illness in humans, like the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. After the virus' initial discovery, a thorough investigation was conducted by the researchers and nearly 14,600 ticks were collected from different locations in northern China and it was discovered that 2 per cent of them tested positive for WELV genetic material. The doctors also detected the virus in sheep, horses, pigs, and rodents, known as Transbaikal zokor. The virus was known to cause cytopathic effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and also led to deadly infections in animal models. The researchers further analysed blood samples collected from forest rangers in the region and found antibodies to WELV in around 12 out of 640 individuals. After testing more patients with tick bites, 20 people were found positive for the virus and had symptoms like fever, dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhoea. As per the reports, one patient also went into a coma because of high white blood cell counts in the brain and spinal fluid. Watch: Next Covid From China: Killer Virus Found in Chinese Fur Farms Even though all patients recovered after treatment, in the lab experiments carried out on mice it was observed that the virus can lead to lethal infections and also affect the nervous system, especially the brain. "Taken together, these data suggest that a newly discovered orthonairovirus, WELV, is [pathogenic] to humans … and circulates among humans, ticks and various animals in northeastern China," stated the researchers. "Improving surveillance and detection for emerging orthonairoviruses will allow a better understanding of the effect that these viruses have on human health," they added. (With inputs from agencies)

China virus alert! Newly-detected tick-borne virus can damage brain. Here's how

Coronavirus has been tormenting the whole world for last two years. The number of cases is still rising in some countries. Ever wondered how does it actually infects humans? Well, now we have an answer to this riddle. &nbsp;

A tiny virus-laden droplet can infect someone with COVID-19, said a study. &nbsp;

The findings of the research, where volunteers were deliberately infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been published in the journal ‘Nature Medicine’ on Thursday. This is the world's first human challenge study.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stealth-omicron-ba2-is-now-globally-dominant-covid-variant-466579" hreflang="en">'Stealth Omicron': BA.2 is now globally dominant Covid variant</a>

Challenge studies involve intentionally giving someone a virus to study its effects on the human body. It is risky but hugely valuable to understand the course of an infection. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Really, there's no other type of study where you can do that, because normally, patients only come to your attention if they have developed symptoms, and so you miss all of those preceding days when the infection is brewing," said Dr Christopher Chiu, an infectious disease physician and immunologist at Imperial College London and the lead author of the study. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The study, which began in March 2021, had volunteers aged between 18 and 30. The volunteers were infected with the originally detected strain of the virus. &nbsp;

They were monitored medically for 24 hours a day. They also stayed at London's Royal Free Hospital for two weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A total of 18 participants became infected. Two never developed symptoms. Around 83% study participants, who got infected, lost sense of smell. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;China's factory activity shrinks, worst covid-19 outbreak in two years

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The illnesses were mild. Some had congestion, stuffy noses, sneezing and sore throats.&nbsp; &nbsp;

It found that about 10 microns, which is the amount in a single droplet someone sneezes or coughs, can make someone sick. &nbsp;

Covid has a short incubation period. After infection, it takes two days for a person to start shedding virus. People shed high amounts of virus before showing symptoms. &nbsp;

Around hours after virus was introduced, it could be detected in the back of the throat. It takes 58 hours for virus to show up on swabs from the nose. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Coronavirus has been tormenting the whole world for last two years. The number of cases is still rising in some countries. Ever wondered how does it actually infects humans?

Coronavirus has been tormenting the whole world for last two years. The number of cases is still rising in some countries. Ever wondered how does it actually infects humans? Well, now we have an answer to this riddle. A tiny virus-laden droplet can infect someone with COVID-19, said a study. The findings of the research, where volunteers were deliberately infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been published in the journal ‘Nature Medicine’ on Thursday. This is the world's first human challenge study. Also Read: 'Stealth Omicron': BA.2 is now globally dominant Covid variant Challenge studies involve intentionally giving someone a virus to study its effects on the human body. It is risky but hugely valuable to understand the course of an infection. "Really, there's no other type of study where you can do that, because normally, patients only come to your attention if they have developed symptoms, and so you miss all of those preceding days when the infection is brewing," said Dr Christopher Chiu, an infectious disease physician and immunologist at Imperial College London and the lead author of the study. The study, which began in March 2021, had volunteers aged between 18 and 30. The volunteers were infected with the originally detected strain of the virus. They were monitored medically for 24 hours a day. They also stayed at London's Royal Free Hospital for two weeks. A total of 18 participants became infected. Two never developed symptoms. Around 83% study participants, who got infected, lost sense of smell. Watch: China's factory activity shrinks, worst covid-19 outbreak in two years × The illnesses were mild. Some had congestion, stuffy noses, sneezing and sore throats. It found that about 10 microns, which is the amount in a single droplet someone sneezes or coughs, can make someone sick. Covid has a short incubation period. After infection, it takes two days for a person to start shedding virus. People shed high amounts of virus before showing symptoms. Around hours after virus was introduced, it could be detected in the back of the throat. It takes 58 hours for virus to show up on swabs from the nose. (With inputs from agencies)

How does COVID-19 actually infect humans? World's first human challenge study reveals  

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