11 hours ago
Alarming discovery in China raises fears virus outbreak could spread to Australia
An alarming 20 new bat viruses have been detected in China, with fears raised that they could be spread to humans and livestock and reach Australia.
The viruses were discovered inside the kidneys of bats inhabiting orchards near villages in China's southwest, along with new species of bacteria and a new parasite.
Two of the viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, which are known for their high fatality rates in humans and concerning symptoms that include severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease.
Associate Professor Vinod Balasubramaniam, a molecular virologist at Monash University in Malaysia, said the viruses were particularly concerning because they were predominantly found in bat kidneys, a site linked to urine production, raising alarm about potential human exposure via contaminated fruits or water.
'For Australia, with its history of Hendra outbreaks linked to bat populations, the findings hold special relevance,' he said.
'The similarity between Australian rural environments and Yunnan's orchards near human settlements stresses the urgency of intensified surveillance and biosecurity measures.
'Global connectivity means an outbreak in China could swiftly reach Australia.'
University of Sydney wildlife disease ecologist Dr Alison Peel said more research was needed to determine the risk posed by the new viruses.
'The main significance of this work lies in the discovery of viruses in bats in China that are "evolutionary cousins" to two of the most concerning pathogens in humans, Hendra virus and Nipah virus, which circulate in bats and are highly fatal if they spill over into people,' she said.
CSIRO virologist Dr Nias Peng said with climate change, land use shifts, and global trade, Australia could not afford to ignore the potential for new diseases transmitted from animals to humans, resulting in outbreaks that may spread globally.
'Given Australia's history with Hendra virus outbreaks since its emergence in 1994 to cause multiple fatal infections in horses and humans, this underscores the importance of continued vigilance in rural and peri-urban areas close to bat habitats,' she said.
'Strengthening disease surveillance, understanding spillover mechanisms, and educating the public about reducing exposure risks, like ensuring fruits are washed and livestock protected from exposure, could help mitigate potential outbreaks.'
The World Health Organisation recommends washing and peeling fruit to prevent the spread of Nipah virus.
University of Queensland Director of the Centre for Animal Science Professor Tim Mahony said while Hendra and Nipah viruses were highly lethal to humans, infection was rare.
'Human infection by Hendra virus requires an amplifying host, horses, with no reports of anyone being infected through contact with bats or their fluids,' he said.
'The situation with Nipah virus is somewhat different, as while an amplifying host can be involved (typically pigs), human infections through contact with saliva from infected bats is a known risk.
'Whether either of these scenarios, or others, applies to the related viruses identified in this study is impossible to know.'
