This new virus appears to be a close cousin of two other viruses that are significant in humans: Nipah virus and Hendra virus. This family of viruses was the inspiration for the fictional MEV-1 virus in the film Contagion.
A new zoonotic virus, named Langya henipavirus has been found in China and has infected 35 people in two provinces of the country so far. The infection is not invasive, doctors suggest.