A rodent-sized mammal found in east Alabama is causing a stir across the state and beyond. Researchers at Auburn University are part of a team that has identified the first henipavirus in North America — in the tissue of a northern short-tailed shrew. The discovery was published this week in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases” and has since made national headlines.

Scientists say while viruses always bring some level of uncertainty, there is no evidence that the newly identified virus is able to infect humans.

“It’s important to know that viruses are everywhere in our environment,” said Wendy Hood, professor of biological sciences at Auburn and a member of the research team. “The genome for the virus that was detected in four individual shrews. There is no data that indicates that this particular virus has been detected in humans or could jump from this species of shrew or any other animal in the U.S. to humans.”

Tissue samples from four shrews were collected in 2021 from land in Tallapoosa County when Hood was working on an NIH-funded study with colleagues at the University of Michigan.

While some henipaviruses are potentially fatal when detected in humans, Auburn scientists say more research is needed to see what, if any, impact this pathogen could have on people.

“Whether or not spillover from animal to humans is possible in this case, precautions should always be taken to reduce risk,” Hood said. “The best advice that we can give the community is the same advice that they have already heard in other contexts, appreciate wildlife from afar and avoid direct contact with unfamiliar or dead animals and their droppings.”

“Something to remember is that we live in an age of discovery,” said Jason Upton, Auburn associate professor of biological science. “Advancing techniques and technologies are allowing us to reveal things in the natural word that we’ve never been able to before, and we will continue to find new viruses in new places.”

Courtesy of Auburn University