China sounds alarm as 35 people fall ill with 'newly identified' Langya virus

Doctors have raised the alarm over a brand new virus that has infected dozens of people in China.

'Langya' henipavirus — or LayV — was detected in 35 people in the country's eastern Henan and Shandong provinces.

Langya belongs to a family of viruses that are known to kill up to 75% of cases
None of the cases in two Chinese provinces so far have resulted in people dying

The novel virus is thought to have been passed on by shrews — small mammals from the same family as hedgehogs and moles.


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