New Tick-Associated Viruses Identified in Northwestern Russia

Ticks found in Russia may carry not only tick-borne encephalitis but also the Beiji nairovirus, Mukawa virus, and Nuomin virus — also referred to as Lesnoye virus — according to Rospotrebnadzor. "In Northwestern Russia, in addition to the tick-borne encephalitis virus, researchers identified viruses such as Beiji nairovirus and Mukawa virus, which had previously been isolated from human blood serum samples in China and Japan," the agency stated. Scientists also discovered the Lesnoye virus in ticks. The virus does not yet have a clearly defined taxonomic classification and resembles the Nuomin virus described in scientific literature.