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A growing chorus of concern is rising among infectious disease researchers regarding two animal-origin viruses – influenza D virus (IDV) and canine coronavirus – with warnings that insufficient monitoring could lead to wider human transmission and potential outbreaks. The viruses, long circulating with limited public attention, are now believed to be operating under conditions that favor broader spread.
Public health experts have cautioned that delayed surveillance and limited diagnostic testing significantly increase the risk of outbreaks linked to these pathogens. A January article published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlighted the need for increased vigilance. According to the authors, both viruses exhibit characteristics associated with respiratory illness in humans, yet public health responses remain inadequate.
“Our review of existing studies shows both viruses pose respiratory disease risks to people,” stated a research professor at the University of Florida (UF) College of Public Health and Health Professions. “If either virus develops efficient person-to-person transmission, it could trigger epidemics or pandemics because most people lack immunity.”
Influenza D Virus: A Growing Concern for Livestock and Humans
First identified in 2011, Influenza D virus (IDV) has been linked to infections in pigs and cattle. As then, researchers have detected the virus in a diverse range of animals, including poultry, deer, giraffes, and kangaroos. The virus is a meaningful contributor to bovine respiratory disease, costing the American cattle industry an estimate
dogs, canine coronavirus has been linked to pneumonia hospitalizations in parts of Southeast Asia. This virus, distinct from the one responsible for COVID-19, is now drawing increased scrutiny.
In 2017, a team at the University of Florida, led by the same research professor, isolated a canine coronavirus strain – named HuCCoV_Z19Haiti – from a medical worker who had traveled from Florida to Haiti. The individual subsequently developed mild fever and malaise.
Further evidence of global circulation emerged in 2021 when a research group at the University of Texas Medical Branch identified another strain, CCoV-HuPn-2018, from a hospitalized child in Malaysia. Genetic analysis revealed a close resemblance to the Florida team’s isolate. As then, CCoV-HuPn-2018 has been detected in people with respiratory illness in Thailand, Vietnam, and Arkansas, confirming its widespread presence.
lessons from the Past and the Need for Vigilance
Researchers emphasize that the current findings regarding IDV and canine coronavirus echo lessons learned from previous pandemics. A virus capable of efficient human transmission can escalate rapidly into a widespread outbreak. Stronger virus monitoring, improved testing capabilities, the progress of medical treatments, and potential vaccines are crucial to mitigating this risk.
“current knowledge about how these viruses spread and cause disease remains limited,” one expert cautioned. “Even so,the available evidence points to a serious public health concern.”
Recent findings from china add to the growing concern. Researchers at the Changchun Veterinary Research Institute have reported on a livestock-linked influenza variant, known as D/HY11, that demonstrates signs of adaptation to humans.The study, conducted on a strain first detected in northeastern China in 2023, revealed the virus can grow and replicate in human airway cells and animal tissues, suggesting increasing adaptation to human biological conditions.
Notably, the virus could spread through the air between animals – rodents and ferrets – without direct contact. As ferrets are a standard model for studying influenza transmission in humans, these findings raise the possibility of future airborne transmission among people.Blood tests indicated that approximately 74% of people in northeastern China carried antibodies to the virus,with a rate of 97% among those experiencing respiratory symptoms. While it remains unclear whether transmission has occurred between humans or through direct animal contact, the researchers concluded that IDV outbreaks are likely an ongoing problem affecting both livestock and humans.
These findings reinforce the urgent need for improved surveillance and testing to prevent delays in detecting viruses with broader public health implications. The potential for these emerging viruses to cause significant illness underscores the importance of proactive measures to protect global health.
