On Jan. 29, 2025, researchers at The University of Queensland announced they have identified the first henipavirus in North America.  Dr. Rhys Parry from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said Camp Hill virus was confirmed in northern short-tailed shrews in the U.S. state of Alabama.

The Hendra virus, one of the most dangerous, was first detected in Brisbane, Australia and has a fatality rate of 70 per cent. “The closest known henipavirus to Camp Hill virus that has caused disease in humans is Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China,” Dr Parry said. 

The research team will next characterise key surface proteins on the virus that are involved in cell entry to broaden the understanding of the virus family and to help develop treatment protection. The research was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.