New ‘Camp Hill’ Henipavirus identified in Alabama

Scientists have detected, for the first time in North America, an unknown virus related to Nipah and Hendra viruses. The pathogen, termed Camp Hill virus (CHV), was detected in four northern short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) captured in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, in 2021. Analysis of the rats’ internal organs led to the discovery. The CHV belongs to the Henipavirus family, which is known to cause encephalitis and severe respiratory disease in humans, with mortality rates of approximately 60% and 40-70%, respectively, for Hendra and Nipah viruses. This discovery is significant as it is the first instance of a Henipavirus being isolated in North America, as detailed in a paper published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases (January 17, 2025) and there is a possibility that it may be widespread throughout central and eastern North America. Researchers think that CHV could pose a risk to humans, with the possibility of transmission occurring through direct contact with infected animals or their faeces and urine. Despite belonging to the same genus as Hendra and Nipah viruses, CHV is genetically distinct from both, with no evidence to date of a species jump. Further research is necessary to isolate CHV and determine the number of animal species it can infect, in order better to assess the potential risk of a human jump.