"Groundbreaking Discovery: University of Arkansas Researchers Uncover Novel Rodent Virus"
Biologists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a new virus called Ozark orthohantavirus (Ozark virus) in rats in Benton and Washington County, part of the Ozark Plateau. While there is no evidence of the virus spreading to humans, further evaluation is warranted due to its close relation to other disease-causing viruses. The distribution of the virus beyond Northwest Arkansas is still unknown. Researchers at the university are studying viruses transmitted from animals to humans to catch and prevent the early spread of infectious diseases, as most new infectious diseases originate from animals.