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Volume 31, Number 8—August 2025

Letter

Henipavirus in Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Alabama, USA

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To the Editor: The article “Henipavirus in northern short-tailed shrew, Alabama, USA,” (1), describing the discovery of Camp Hill virus (family Paramyxoviridae) in the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), sparked major media attention and raised concerns about zoonotic transmission and potential pandemic risk. However, it would be advisable to reevaluate this virus discovery within the broader context of related viruses. The increase in identified henipa-like viruses in various shrew species (24) led the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses to classify these henipa-like viruses into a distinct genus, Parahenipavirus (5), acknowledging their genetic difference from the highly pathogenic Hendra and Nipah virus.

Parahenipaviruses appear to be abundant in white- and red-toothed shrew species globally, but reports of infections in nonshrew species are limited so far, raising questions of their potential for spillover. Of note, no human infections with the Camp Hill virus have been reported to date, which aligns with the authors’ statement. The only known related shrew virus, which was detected in febrile, hospitalized humans and later in Ussuri and Shantung white-toothed shrews, was Langya virus (LayV) in China (4). The relationship between Camp Hill virus and its supposed reservoir suggests a great evolutionary distance between LayV and the crocidurine shrews. Of note, Hasua virus, a virus discovered in a white-toothed shrew in Germany (3), is genetically much closer related to LayV, but there is currently no evidence of associated human infections.

Because of the limited understanding of parahenipaviruses and the lack of evidence for their zoonotic potential, we urge caution in assuming pandemic risks. The absence of viral isolates and serologic studies are major limitations, underscoring the need for future research to guide risk analysis and response strategies.

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Viola C. HaringComments to Author , Sandra Diederich, Martin Beer, and Florian Pfaff
Author affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Isle of Riems, Germany

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References

  1. Horemans  M, Van Bets  J, Joly Maes  T, Maes  P, Vanmechelen  B. Discovery and genome characterization of six new orthoparamyxoviruses in small Belgian mammals. Virus Evol. 2023;9:vead065. DOIGoogle Scholar
  2. Haring  VC, Litz  B, Jacob  J, Brecht  M, Bauswein  M, Sehl-Ewert  J, et al. Detection of novel orthoparamyxoviruses, orthonairoviruses and an orthohepevirus in European white-toothed shrews. Microb Genom. 2024;10:001275. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  3. Zhang  X-A, Li  H, Jiang  F-C, Zhu  F, Zhang  YF, Chen  JJ, et al. A zoonotic henipavirus in febrile patients in China. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:4702. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Simmonds  P, Adriaenssens  EM, Lefkowitz  EJ, Oksanen  HM, Siddell  SG, Zerbini  FM, et al. Changes to virus taxonomy and the ICTV Statutes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2024). Arch Virol. 2024;169:236. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar

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Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid3108.250401

Original Publication Date: July 16, 2025

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Viola C. Haring, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Sueduefer 10, 17493 Greifswald–Isle of Riems, Germany

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Page created: June 12, 2025
Page updated: July 22, 2025
Page reviewed: July 22, 2025
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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