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New Viruses Threaten US: Are We Ready?
29 Jan
Summary
- Influenza D and canine coronaviruses pose emerging public health risks.
- These viruses could cause epidemics if they evolve human-to-human transmission.
- Increased monitoring, testing, and vaccine development are urgently needed.
Emerging viruses, influenza D and canine coronavirus, are now recognized as significant public health threats in the United States. Researchers caution that these animal-borne viruses have the potential to cause widespread illness if they evolve the capacity for easy human-to-human transmission, given the general lack of pre-existing immunity.
Influenza D, primarily found in livestock, has shown evidence of human exposure in cattle workers, and a strain in China has already developed inter-human transmissibility. Canine coronavirus has been linked to human respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations in Asia and the Americas, circulating across continents.
Scientists emphasize the critical need for improved surveillance, robust diagnostic testing, and investment in preventative measures like vaccines and treatments. The current limited understanding of these viruses' epidemiology and clinical effects highlights their potential as major public health concerns.
