Ketapang virus

Ketapang virus: what is this disease?

Ketapang virus is a virus of the Bunyavirus genus, belonging to the ecological group of Arboviruses and the Bakau antigenic group. Despite the fact that this virus was discovered back in 1968, its pathogenicity for humans has not yet been established.

Bunyaviruses are a group of RNA viruses that are transmitted by blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. These viruses are the cause of diseases such as Rift Valley fever, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug fever and others.

The ecological group of arboviruses includes viruses that circulate between blood-sucking insects and animals. A person can become infected with these viruses only through the bite of an infected insect.

Ketapang virus belongs to the Bakau antigenic group, which includes several other viruses such as O'Neill virus and Japanese encephalitis virus. The Ketapang virus was first isolated from mosquitoes in Indonesia in 1968.

Although the pathogenicity of Ketapang virus in humans has not been established, studies indicate that it can induce antibodies in humans, indicating its ability to infect humans. However, no cases of illness caused by this virus have been reported.

Some scientists believe that the Ketapang virus may be linked to the development of other diseases such as dengue and West Nile fever. However, additional research is required to confirm this hypothesis.

Overall, the Ketapang virus is being studied by scientists to better understand its biology and potential threat to human health.