Khaberni - Infectious disease experts warn that the influenza D "D" virus and canine coronavirus might become a new threat to public health.
The researchers in the study published in the journal "Emerging Infectious Diseases" attribute their concerns to the lengthy duration of lack of monitoring and testing for these viruses in humans.
Warnings about the possibility that the influenza D "D" virus and canine coronavirus may become a new threat
Dr. John Lednicky, a researcher at the University of Florida, explained that these two viruses have significant potential to cause respiratory diseases in humans if they acquire the ability to easily transmit from one person to another, noting that most people do not have natural immunity against them, making the possibility of their widespread dissemination feasible.
The influenza "D" virus was discovered in 2011, and it is linked with infections in cattle and pigs, but it has also been observed in many other animals such as poultry, deer, giraffes, and kangaroos. It is believed that this virus contributes to respiratory system diseases in cattle, costing the livestock industry in the United States about a billion dollars annually.
Previous studies have shown that a high percentage of those working with cattle in Colorado and Florida have antibodies against the influenza "D" virus, indicating their exposure to the virus, although the infection has not yet caused noticeable symptoms. However, the virus carries markers of readiness for rapid evolution, and a strain has been discovered in China that shows the ability to transmit between humans.
Warnings about the possibility that the influenza D "D" virus and canine coronavirus may become a new threat
The canine coronavirus usually causes intestinal diseases in dogs and is not related to the coronavirus causing "COVID-19".
However, rare cases of humans infected with the virus have been observed, some linked to pneumonia in Southeast Asia.
In a previous study, a strain of canine coronavirus was isolated from a medical team member who traveled from Florida to Haiti, while other research showed the emergence of a similar strain in a child admitted to a hospital in Malaysia, then the same strain was detected in patients with respiratory illnesses in Thailand, Vietnam, and Arkansas, USA, confirming the virus's spread across continents.
Warnings about the possibility that the influenza D "D" virus and canine coronavirus may become a new threat
The researchers emphasize that the lessons learned from recent pandemics clarify that any virus that gains the ability to easily transmit among humans can quickly become a widespread epidemic. Therefore, scientists recommend improving virus monitoring, developing accurate and reliable tests, and researching potential treatments and vaccines.
The researchers concluded that current knowledge about these two viruses is limited, but the available evidence suggests that they pose a significant threat to public health if not proactively handled.
