Sinu Virus

We've often said on this site that nature always will find new ways to infect animals (and humans) and to evolve and mutate viruses within the larger family of Orthomyxoviruses. Influenza viruses constitute just a small part of that extended family.

The problem is, of course, that related viruses may change sufficiently as a result of interaction with other species and become virulent enough to pose a danger to humans. We have to keep a vigilant eye on every corner of the earth to detect new related viruses.

Recently, a novel insect-specific Orthomyxovirus, designated Sinu virus, has been detected in mosquitoes that were collected around Sinú, a river with dry forests in northwestern Colombia[1].

Genetic testing showed that Sinu Virus appears to be most closely related to viruses in the genus Thogotovirus.

Togotoviruses has now been expanded to nine distinct members: Thogoto Virus, Dhori Virus, Araguari Virus, Batken Virus, Jos Virus, Upolu Virus, Aransas Bay Virus, Bourbon Virus and Sinu Virus.

[1] Contreras-Gutiérrez et al: Sinu virus, a novel and divergent orthomyxovirus related to members of the genus Thogotovirus isolated from mosquitoes in Colombia in Virology – 2017