According to the seven researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology in Pune, the presence of Cat Que Virus in Culex mosquitoes and pigs has been reported in China and Vietnam. They added that due to the spread of similar species of the Culex mosquitoes in India, ICMR scientists have flagged the presence of the virus in India too which has a “potential” to cause disease, even as it fights with the Covidpandemic. CQV can cause febrile illnesses, meningitis, and pediatric encephalitis in humans.

“Data showed that Indian mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus) were susceptible to CQV,” as per the ICMR study. 

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) have become a significant public health concern, with the emergence and re-emergence of arboviral diseases worldwide.

According to the apex research body, domestic pigs are the primary mammalian host of CQV and antibodies against the virus have been reported in swine reared locally in China, indicating that CQV has formed a natural cycle in local areas.

Cat Que Virus reported in India?

National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune researchers found antibodies for the virus in two out of the 883 human serum samples which were taken from various Indian states, indicating that people at some point contracted the virus.

The two samples that tested positive for CQV antibodies came from Karnataka in 2014 and 2017.

During the course of the study, the virus was not found in human or animal samples.

“Detection of antibodies against CQV in human serum samples indicates the need for the cross-sectional surveillance to understand the circulation of this virus in India,” ICMR said.

ICMR has released a detailed report regarding this virus.

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