Virus Found in Blood Supply

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

It looks a little like the hepatitis C virus, which can cause permanent liver damage, and a little like the human pegivirus, which appears to be harmless, the team reports in the journal mBio.

They've named it human hepegivirus-1 (HHpgV-1).

"We have been able to find a new virus. It's clearly transmitted as a result of human (blood) transfusion," said infectious disease expert Dr. Ian Lipkin, who oversaw the study team at Columbia University.


"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," Lipkin told NBC News.

"IT IS THE FIRST TRANSFUSION-ASSOCIATED VIRUS THAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED IN A LONG TIME."

"We just don't know how many viruses are transmitted through the blood supply. There are so many viruses out there, and they need to be characterized in order to ensure that transfusions are safe," Kapoor said.

Hemophilia was once only treated with blood products taken from people. Now it's often treated with genetically engineered products, which do not carry infectious agents.

Now that the genetic sequence of this new virus is published, Lipkin said, other scientists can start looking for it.


http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/new-virus-found-blood-supply-n431856