New Virus Found in Blood, But No Need to Worry: Scientists

Scientists have found a new virus that can be transmitted by blood transfusions and other blood-based products, NBC News reported.

They’re calling the new virus human hepegivirus-1 (HHpgV-1).

The virus bears a slight resemblance to the hepatitis C virus, which can cause permanent liver damage, and the human pegivirus, the team reported in the journal mBio.

"It is the first transfusion-associated virus that's been described in a long time. We don't know if it is going to be a significant cause of human hepatitis," infectious disease expert Dr. Ian Lipkin told NBC News.

Researchers say there’s no need for concern.

"We really don't know if there is ongoing transmission of this virus. It may be good for you,” said Amit Kapoor, an assistant professor at Columbia University who led the study.

Researchers sampled banked blood from 46 volunteers between 1974 and 1980. The virus was found in two samples and both patients appear to have “cleared” the virus, with no evidence that it caused any disease.
 

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