Two animal-origin viruses are drawing attention from infectious disease researchers who warn they could spread more widely among humans if gaps in monitoring persist. The viruses, influenza D virus (IDV) and canine coronavirus, have circulated for years with little public attention. Scientists now say current conditions favor broader transmission.

Related: Nipah Virus triggers health alerts in Asia

Warnings from public health experts

In a January article published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), a group of infectious disease experts cautioned that delayed surveillance and limited diagnostic testing raise the risk of outbreaks linked to these pathogens. According to the authors, both viruses show traits associated with respiratory illness in humans, yet public health responses remain limited.

John Lednicky, a research professor at the University of Florida (UF) College of Public Health and Health Professions, said their review of existing studies shows both viruses pose respiratory disease risks to people. He said that if either virus develops efficient person to person transmission, it could trigger epidemics or pandemics because most people lack immunity.

Influenza D virus and animal exposure

Influenza D virus (IDV) was first identified in 2011 and has been linked to infections in pigs and cattle. Researchers have since detected it in other animals, including poultry, deer, giraffes, and kangaroos. The virus contributes to bovine respiratory disease, which costs the American cattle industry an estimated one billion dollars each year.

Earlier studies by the research team examined cattle workers in Colorado and Florida. Results showed that up to 97 percent of workers carried antibodies to IDV, which points to prior exposure. These infections did not cause noticeable illness, but researchers say the virus shows signs of rapid genetic change. A strain isolated in China has already demonstrated the ability to spread between humans.

Lednicky said IDV has not caused severe illness in people so far. He added that canine coronavirus has caused human disease, but routine testing rarely includes it, leaving its broader impact unclear.

According to the CDC , IDV primarily affects cattle but can spill over to other animals. Meanwhile, studies show that infections have been confirmed worldwide through serological and molecular testing, as well as virus isolation. Researchers said that the virus carries a hemagglutinin-esterase fusion protein, which sets it apart from other influenza viruses and determines its broad host range. Cattle are considered the main reservoir, and the virus contributes to bovine respiratory disease syndrome. Animals associated with humans that can be infected include camels, pigs, small ruminants, and horses, while wild and captive species such as feral pigs, wild boars, deer, hedgehogs, giraffes, wildebeests, kangaroos, wallabies, and llamas have also tested positive. High antibody prevalence in camels suggests they may serve as a reservoir as well. Studies have detected IDV antibodies in people with professional contact with cattle, indicating potential zoonotic risk, though no cases of illness in the general population have been documented.

Canine coronavirus in humans

Canine coronavirus typically causes gastrointestinal illness in dogs and is different from the virus that causes Covid-19. While human cases remain uncommon, researchers have linked infections to pneumonia hospitalizations in parts of Southeast Asia.
In a study led by Lednicky, a UF team isolated a canine coronavirus from a medical worker who traveled from Florida to Haiti in 2017. The individual later developed mild fever and malaise. The researchers named the strain HuCCoV_Z19Haiti.

Evidence of global circulation

In 2021, a research group led by Gregory Gray at the University of Texas Medical Branch identified another strain, CCoV-HuPn-2018. Scientists isolated it from a hospitalized child in Malaysia. Genetic analysis showed the virus closely resembled the strain identified by the Florida team. Since then, researchers have detected CCoV-HuPn-2018 in people with respiratory illness in Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S. state of Arkansas. These findings indicate the virus already circulates across multiple regions.

Lessons from past outbreaks

The researchers said recent findings involving IDV and canine coronavirus echo lessons from earlier pandemics. They said a virus that gains efficient human transmission can escalate quickly into a widespread outbreak. According to the authors, stronger virus monitoring, improved testing, medical treatments, and potential vaccines could reduce that risk. They added that current knowledge about how these viruses spread and cause disease remains limited. Even so, available evidence points to a serious public health concern.

New findings from China

Researchers in China have also reported growing concern about a livestock-linked influenza variant that shows signs of adaptation to humans. The findings add to broader scientific attention on IDV. A research team from the Changchun Veterinary Research Institute studied a strain known as D/HY11, first detected in livestock in northeastern China in 2023.

According to the study, the virus can grow and replicate in human airway cells and in several animal tissues, which suggests increasing adaptation to human biological conditions. The researchers found that the virus could spread through the air between animals such as rodents and ferrets without direct contact. Ferrets serve as a standard model for studying influenza transmission in humans, and the findings suggest possible future airborne transmission among people.

Blood tests showed that about 74% of people in northeastern China carried antibodies to the virus, which indicates widespread exposure. Among individuals with respiratory symptoms, the antibody rate reached 97%. The researchers said it remains unclear whether transmission has occurred between humans or if infections resulted from direct contact with animals.

The team concluded that IDV outbreaks have likely become an ongoing problem affecting both livestock and humans. They said the findings reinforce warnings that gaps in surveillance and testing could delay detection of viruses with broader public health implications.

Accelerating the fight vs TB and malaria

Efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) and malaria in the WHO South-East Asia Region are showing progress but demand sustained action and cooperation. According to the WHO Global TB Report 2024, over 3.8 million people in the region began TB treatment in 2023, a record high. However, the region still accounts for 45% of the global TB burden, with over 5 million cases and 583,000 deaths reported last year. Funding gaps and low coverage of preventive treatments, particularly for high-risk groups, highlight the need for urgent, multi-sectoral efforts to address the disease’s socio-economic impact.

Similarly, the World Malaria Report 2024 reveals an 82% drop in malaria cases in the region since 2000, with deaths reduced by nearly 83%. While countries like Timor-Leste and Bhutan reported zero indigenous cases, others, including Thailand and Myanmar, saw increases. The region remains on track to meet WHO’s malaria reduction targets by 2030 but faces risks from climate change and other factors.

WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed stressed out the importance of political commitment, equitable access to healthcare, and community-centered approaches. Initiatives such as the Gandhinagar Declaration and the UN high-level meeting on TB reflect growing momentum. Sustained collaboration and innovation are essential to building on these achievements and ensuring a healthier future for all.

China launches cross-border platform to boost healthcare collaboration

Meanwhile, China recently launched its first cross-border pharmaceutical centralized procurement platform in Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to enhance access to quality medicines and strengthen healthcare ties with Southeast Asia.

Guided by China’s National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA), the platform oversees bulk purchasing, account settlement, and distribution of medicines and medical supplies. Deputy Director Shi Zihai highlighted China’s success in centralized procurement, covering 435 medicines, including treatments for chronic diseases and cancer.

The initiative seeks to deepen collaboration with ASEAN nations under the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting healthcare innovation and improving regional well-being. It also supports the International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone in Fangchenggang, which focuses on medical innovation and cooperation with ASEAN and Shanghai Cooperation Organization members.

Leveraging its proximity to ASEAN, Guangxi aims to make the platform a hub for technology sharing, trade facilitation, and talent development. The platform will simplify the entry of Chinese medicines into ASEAN markets and explore new methods for overseas drug purchases, benefiting Guangxi residents, insured individuals, and cross-border patients from ASEAN countries.

Representatives from ASEAN nations, including Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, joined Chinese experts for a seminar to discuss pharmaceutical procurement and future collaboration opportunities.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which suggested either restricting trans fat levels or banning PHOs entirely, including their production, import, and use, recommends limiting trans fats in food to under 2g per 100g of total fat. A recent WHO study found 10% of tested Indonesian food products exceed safe trans fat levels. The government sees this move as essential to protecting public health.

Indonesia plans to phase in policies starting with a ban on PHO imports. However, challenges persist for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reliant on PHOs. Coordination between ministries will aim to mitigate economic impacts.

BPOM, Indonesia’s food regulatory agency, supports the initiative and is working with the WHO to strengthen existing rules.

Source: Antara

Experts stressed that phasing out fossil fuels is pivotal in preventing millions of annual deaths caused by conditions worsened by air pollution and rising temperatures, such as asthma and respiratory diseases. Despite compelling evidence linking health problems to emissions, many countries fail to recognize this correlation, hindering effective action.

A study in the British Medical Journal estimated over five million yearly deaths globally due to air pollution from fossil fuels, emphasizing the potential lives that could be saved by transitioning away from these fuels. However, this critical issue was absent in two-thirds of the climate plans submitted to the UN.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also highlighted the immediate health threats posed by climate change, urging nations to prioritize health in their climate strategies. Rising temperatures are expanding the reach of diseases like dengue and malaria, previously confined to specific regions.

Criticism was directed at high-emission nations like India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa for not endorsing the COP28 Health Declaration on Climate and Health, signaling that these omissions could result in repercussions for their populations and worsen global emissions.

Although the declaration overlooked fossil fuels, it did secure US$1 billion in pledges from various entities to support climate and health initiatives, especially in developing countries where health risks due to climate change are severe. However, current funding for health-focused climate action remains notably inadequate.

Experts highlighted the urgency of increasing funding for cleaner energy access globally, particularly in Africa, where a majority of families still use polluting stoves. Transitioning to cleaner alternatives not only reduces emissions but also significantly improves air quality.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), likewise resounded the call for wealthier nations to support transitions to cleaner energy in poorer nations. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization urges the health sector to lead by example in reducing its carbon footprint, given its significant global emissions.

Ultimately, health and climate campaigners advocate for immediate, comprehensive action to address the intertwined issues of climate change and public health, emphasizing the critical role of funding, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and global cooperation in securing a cleaner, healthier future for all.

Health Care Asia
Home

The findings of this research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, hold significant relevance for public policy and healthcare. They suggest that challenging housing situations contribute to the acceleration of biological aging, but importantly, this aging process is also reversible. This underscores the necessity for a comprehensive housing policy approach that goes beyond affordability, encompassing the psychosocial aspects of housing. Furthermore, it highlights the critical importance of addressing environmental concerns and housing arrears to enhance overall health.

Housing-Health Nexus

Housing has long been recognized as a determinant of health, with numerous studies establishing connections between the two. Factors like access to clean water, safe living conditions, and socioeconomic disparities within housing are well-documented contributors to health outcomes. However, this new study takes a closer look at the psychosocial elements of housing and their influence on health, particularly through the lens of epigenetic aging.

Epigenetic aging is a phenomenon where changes in DNA methylation patterns are associated with the aging process. It is a critical determinant of an individual’s biological age, which may differ from their chronological age. The researchers aimed to understand how housing circumstances, both current and past, impact epigenetic aging and, consequently, overall health.

The study’s findings reveal that living in a privately rented home is associated with faster epigenetic aging. This effect is particularly pronounced when compared to other well-known factors affecting biological age, such as unemployment or smoking history.

Moreover, when historical housing circumstances are included in the analysis, the study finds that repeated housing arrears and exposure to pollution or environmental problems are also linked to accelerated epigenetic aging. These results underscore the complexity of the housing-health relationship, highlighting the long-term repercussions of housing instability and environmental challenges.

In this context, the study, which sheds light on the potential relationship between housing circumstances and epigenetic aging, emphasizes how improving housing conditions can have a positive impact on public health.

Source: BMJ Journals

Health Care Asia
Home