Reovirus has been detected in the bodies of five people for the first time in Bangladesh.
The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the development on Friday.
The IEDCR has identified the existence of reovirus after conducting a study on new disease-causing germs.
The new discovery came after the samples of 48 people with Nipah virus symptoms have been tested recently, IEDCR director Tahmina Shirin said.
After receiving treatment, all the infected individuals are now in good health.
The IEDCR conducted the study along with Columbia University in the US as part of a regular study.
Reovirus spreads through sneezing and coughing. Its symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Children and the elderly are more vulnerable in this case.
However, the IEDCR director said that there is no cause for concern about this virus.
Many encephalitis cases, inflammation of the active tissues of the brain caused by an infection or an autoimmune response are found in the country, but often the cause of infection remains unknown.
This research can be helpful in improving the treatment of such patients, Shirin said.
The infection of this virus is detected by testing patients who have symptoms similar to Nipah virus.
Many people are infected with Nipah virus after drinking raw date juice in a winter season.
So far, nine types of reovirus have been identified in the world - of which four can infect humans.
The type identified in Bangladesh is bat-reovirus, which can be spread by bats. Reovirus was first identified worldwide in 1950.
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