Menangle virus

Menangle virus is a virus that infects pigs, humans and bats. It was first identified in 1997 after a piggery in Menangle near Sydney, NSW, Australia was struck with a high number of still born births and deformities during farrowing. Two workers at the piggery came down with an unexplained serious flu-like sickness, but subsequently recovered. They later tested positive for Menangle virus by serology. The source of the outbreak was maybe a nearby population of fruit bats or flying foxes. Bats appear to be an asymptomatic host. Infection is thought to occur through serious contact with bodily fluids from infected animals (i.e. blood and possible foetal matter).

Menangle is related to the recently discovered Tioman virus which is also bat-borne.

Menangle is one of three recently discovered zoonotic viruses in Australia that are carried by bats. The others are Hendra virus and Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV or bat rabies).