While the world is busy watching for the next big sickness, two quiet viruses are starting to make noise in the scientific community. Researchers from the University of Florida are warning that a specific type of flu found in cows and a coronavirus found in dogs need immediate attention before they turn into the next big public health headache.
The warning comes from a new report published this month in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. The experts argue that because these viruses—Influenza D and canine coronavirus—are originating in animals, most humans don’t have natural protection against them.
The fear is that if these germs figure out how to jump easily from person to person, we could be looking at widespread outbreaks.
The first threat is Influenza D. It was discovered back in 2011 and is mostly known for affecting cattle, costing the beef industry roughly $1 billion a year. It has also been found in animals ranging from pigs to kangaroos. What worries scientists is that it isn’t staying in the barn.
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Studies show that nearly 97% of cattle workers tested in places like Florida and Colorado had signs of previous exposure to the virus in their blood. While these workers didn’t get severely sick, the virus is known to change rapidly. A version of it found recently in China showed it might already be capable of spreading between people.
Then there is the canine coronavirus. It is important to note this isn’t the virus that causes COVID-19. It typically just gives dogs an upset stomach.
However, it has started showing up in humans with much more serious consequences. Doctors found a strain of it in a medical worker who got sick in Haiti, and a nearly identical strain was found in a hospitalized child in Malaysia. Since then, the virus has been spotted in patients with breathing problems in Thailand, Vietnam, and even Arkansas.
The big takeaway from the research team is that we can’t wait for a crisis to start looking for these bugs. Right now, doctors don’t routinely test for these specific viruses, which means they could be spreading unnoticed.
The authors of the report say we need better monitoring and new tests now, rather than scrambling for solutions after a large outbreak begins.
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