South Korean researchers have discovered a new human coronavirus.
A team led by Song Jin Won from Korea University’s College of Medicine identified a novel coronavirus while analyzing samples from an infant admitted to Korea University Ansan Hospital in 2022. The findings were published in the February issue of the international journal Emerging Microbes & Infections.
The infant was hospitalized with respiratory symptoms, including fever, cough, phlegm, runny nose, acute otitis media, and liver dysfunction. Notably, the patient exhibited pneumonia symptoms and abnormally elevated liver function levels. While COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, this new virus also appears to impact liver function. Fortunately, the infant recovered after eight days of conservative treatment and was discharged.
The research team found that the newly discovered virus differs genetically from existing human coronaviruses and likely originated in rodents. A study conducted from 2018 to 2022 examined 880 wild striped field mice in South Korea, detecting a novel alpha coronavirus in 16 specimens (1.8%) collected from Gangwon Province and Jeju Island. This virus showed 93.0% to 96.8% genetic similarity with the virus found in the infant.
The transmission route remains unclear, and further research is needed to determine the potential for human-to-human spread. Professor Song emphasized that this virus likely represents a new form of animal-to-human transmission. Given that emerging viruses pose serious public health threats, he stressed the importance of thorough research into transmission routes and pathogenicity to develop appropriate countermeasures.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with an outbreak of an unidentified disease linked to bats.
The New York Times reported on February 25 that an unidentified infectious disease is rapidly spreading in northwestern DRC. According to a weekly report released by the World Health Organization’s Africa office on March 15, there have been 431 reported cases so far, with 53 deaths.
The fatality rate among the infected has reached 12.3%, alarming health authorities. Patients exhibit symptoms such as fever, vomiting, muscle pain, and diarrhea, with some experiencing severe bleeding symptoms like nosebleeds and vomiting blood. Most fatalities occurred within 48 hours of symptom onset, indicating the disease’s rapid progression.
Health officials believe the outbreak originated in Boloko village, Équateur Province, in early February. Three children who consumed bats died, exhibiting severe bleeding symptoms shortly before their deaths, suggesting bats may be the disease vector.
Bats are known hosts for deadly hemorrhagic viruses such as Ebola and Marburg, and the precursor to the COVID-19 virus was also found in bats. However, a WHO investigation team’s analysis of 18 samples ruled out Marburg and Ebola as causes of this outbreak.
The WHO states that further investigation is necessary to determine the exact cause of the disease. They warn that the region’s vulnerable health system increases the risk of further spread. The international community is now exploring cooperative measures for early intervention.
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