New virus discovered in migratory bird in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Biomedical Science Institute (ICB-USP) in Brazil have discovered a new virus in a migratory bird species. This is such a rare find that it can be considered a stroke of luck, especially because the virus in question is avian paramyxovirus 15, which belongs to the same family as avian paramyxovirus, the pathogen that causes Newcastle disease. This disease is not a health hazard for humans, but can be lethal to wildfowl and domestic poultry.