A virus that was previously dangerous only to fish and crustaceans is now spreading to humans, causing severe, chronic eye disease. A study published in the journal Nature Microbiology confirms that a pathogen prevalent in seafood is responsible for serious vision problems and a dangerous increase in intraocular pressure in humans.
Recently, medics in China were faced with an unusual medical puzzle. Patients exhibited acute eye inflammation and high internal pressure, yet traditional tests failed to detect any known virus.
Scientists focused their attention on Covert Mortality Nodavirus (CMNV) — a pathogen that had previously only been discovered in fish and crustaceans. To confirm their suspicions, researchers examined the eye tissues of 70 patients using ultra-modern electron microscopy.
According to the study, the examination of damaged tissues revealed viral particles with a genetic code that is a 98.96% match to the virus found among marine life. This near-total identity clearly confirms that the disease is caused by a pathogen jumped from aquatic animals. This finding proves that the interspecies barrier has been breached, and an aquatic animal virus has become a new threat to the human body.
How does the virus spread to humans?
A study of the patients’ lifestyles showed that the threat comes directly from kitchens or commercial outlets. 75% of those surveyed were regularly in contact with raw seafood: they handled fish or shrimp without protective gloves and frequently consumed thermally unprocessed (raw) seafood.
How real is the global threat?
This is the first scientific evidence that an aquatic animal virus can cause a specific eye disease in humans. Global monitoring conducted as part of the study showed that the CMNV virus has already been detected in 49 species of marine creatures (including crabs and mollusks) across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and even Antarctica.
Scientists warn that this is not just a regional problem. Adhering to hygiene standards and using gloves when processing seafood is becoming crucial to protecting oneself from this new threat.
