Getah virus: An increasing threat in China

Several recent studies in this journal have highlighted the threat posed by mosquito-borne viruses in China, such as Zika virus and dengue virus. 1 Shen Z. Li X. Lu Y. et al. Nonindigenous case of Asian Zika virus lineage in Yunnan, China, 2019. J Infect. 2019; ([ahead of print]) Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (2) Google Scholar , 2 Wang B. Liang Y. Lu Y. et al. The importation of the phylogenetic-transition state of Zika virus to China in 2014. J Infect. 2018; 76: 106-109 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar , 3 Wang W.H. Chen H.J. Lin C.Y. et al. Imported dengue fever and climatic variation are important determinants facilitating dengue epidemics in southern Taiwan. J Infect. 2019; ([ahead of print]) Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (4) Google Scholar Getah virus (GETV) is also a mosquito-borne virus that is classified in the Alphavirus genus of the Togaviridae family. The genome of GETV is linear, positive-sense ssRNA, encoding a total of nine viral proteins (nsP1-nsP4, E1-E3, C, and 6 K). GETV was first isolated from Culex mosquitoes collected in Malaysia in 1955 and has since been found in mosquitoes in Asian countries surrounded by the Pacific Ocean (China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and India) based on viral isolation and/or molecular epidemiological investigations. 4 Li Y.Y. Liu H. Fu S.H. et al. From discovery to spread: the evolution and phylogeny of Getah virus. Infect, Genet Evol: J Mol Epidemiol Evolut Genet Infect Dis. 2017; 55: 48-55 PubMed Google Scholar ,5 Fukunaga Y. Kumanomido T. Kamada M. Getah virus as an equine pathogen. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2000; 16: 605-617 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (38) Google Scholar