Virus from Seafood Jumps to Humans, Causing Chronic Eye Disease

A virus normally found in marine animals like shrimp and fish has made a rare cross-species jump to humans, causing a chronic eye condition called persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU), according to research published in Nature Microbiology. Cases of POH-VAU have been increasing in China in recent years without clear explanation. The disease causes extremely elevated eye pressure and inflammation in affected patients. This represents an unusual example of zoonotic transmission from seafood-associated pathogens to humans.

Marine Virus Jumping to Humans

• ▪A study about a marine virus jumping to humans was published in the journal Nature Microbiology.
• ▪The marine virus that jumped to humans is causing chronic eye disease in some people.
• ▪A virus that typically infects marine animals such as shrimp and fish has jumped to humans.

Chronic Eye Disease Outbreak in China

• ▪Persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU) symptoms include extremely elevated eye pressure.
• ▪There is no clear explanation for why persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU) cases have been increasing in China.
• ▪The number of people in China with persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU) has been increasing in recent years.

Perspective of Researchers studying POH-VAU

• ▪Understanding how the marine virus adapted to infect human eye tissue is important for preventing future cases of POH-VAU.
• ▪The marine virus causing POH-VAU represents a previously unknown pathway for zoonotic disease transmission from seafood to humans.

Perspective of Public health officials in China

• ▪The increasing POH-VAU cases in China may be linked to seafood handling or consumption practices in affected populations.
• ▪Monitoring and tracking POH-VAU cases is necessary to identify potential outbreak patterns and risk factors.

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