Latest news with #batviruses
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists raise ‘urgent concerns' over new bat viruses discovered in China
Researchers have raised 'urgent concerns' after discovering two new bat viruses in China with the potential to infect humans and cause severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease. The viruses, along with multiple new bacteria and parasite species, were discovered in bats inhabiting orchards in southwestern China's Yunnan province, according to a study published on Tuesday in the journal PLoS Pathogens. These viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra pathogens, which cause severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease in humans, according to researchers, including from the Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention. Nipah is a lethal pathogen known to cause severe disease in humans, including acute respiratory distress with a high mortality rate of 35-75 per cent. The Hendra virus has been responsible for multiple fatal outbreaks in humans and horses. 'These viruses are naturally hosted by fruit bats and are typically transmitted to humans through bat urine or saliva, often via contamination of food sources,' researchers said. The study raises concerns about the potential for similar new viruses to spread from bats to livestock or humans in the region. 'This finding is particularly significant as Yunnan province is a recognised hotspot for bat diversity,' it notes. Due to their unique immune systems, bats are a natural reservoir for a wide range of microorganisms, including notable pathogens transmitted to humans. While the exact origins of the Covid-19 pandemic remain unclear, numerous studies suggest horseshoe bats as one of the most likely host candidates from which the novel coronavirus jumped to humans. However, the complete array of viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites that infect bats remains unknown as most previous studies have focused on faeces from the flying mammal alone without inspecting the organs. The latest study peered inside the kidneys of 142 bats from 10 species, which were collected over four years across five areas of Yunnan. Genome sequencing of the samples revealed 22 viruses, of which 20 are new to science. Two of these were henipaviruses, the same genus as Nipah and Hendra, which have had high fatality rates in humans in previous epidemic outbreaks. Since these viruses can potentially spread through urine, scientists raise concerns about the risk of these pathogens jumping to humans or livestock via contaminated fruit from the orchards. The findings underscore the need for a multi-organ screening approach to understand the microbial diversity harboured by bats. Scientists call for 'comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations'. "By analysing the infectome of bat kidneys collected near village orchards and caves in Yunnan, we uncovered not only the diverse microbes bats carry, but also the first full-length genomes of novel bat-borne henipaviruses closely related to Hendra and Nipah viruses identified in China,' they say. Researchers have also expressed 'urgent concerns about the potential for these viruses to spill over into humans or livestock'.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists raise ‘urgent concerns' over new bat viruses discovered in China
Researchers have raised 'urgent concerns' after discovering two new bat viruses in China with the potential to infect humans and cause severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease. The viruses, along with multiple new bacteria and parasite species, were discovered in bats inhabiting orchards in southwestern China 's Yunnan province, according to a study published on Tuesday in the journal PLoS Pathogens. These viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra pathogens, which cause severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease in humans, according to researchers, including from the Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention. Nipah is a lethal pathogen known to cause severe disease in humans, including acute respiratory distress with a high mortality rate of 35-75 per cent. The Hendra virus has been responsible for multiple fatal outbreaks in humans and horses. 'These viruses are naturally hosted by fruit bats and are typically transmitted to humans through bat urine or saliva, often via contamination of food sources,' researchers said. The study raises concerns about the potential for similar new viruses to spread from bats to livestock or humans in the region. 'This finding is particularly significant as Yunnan province is a recognised hotspot for bat diversity,' it notes. Due to their unique immune systems, bats are a natural reservoir for a wide range of microorganisms, including notable pathogens transmitted to humans. While the exact origins of the Covid-19 pandemic remain unclear, numerous studies suggest horseshoe bats as one of the most likely host candidates from which the novel coronavirus jumped to humans. However, the complete array of viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites that infect bats remains unknown as most previous studies have focused on faeces from the flying mammal alone without inspecting the organs. The latest study peered inside the kidneys of 142 bats from 10 species, which were collected over four years across five areas of Yunnan. Genome sequencing of the samples revealed 22 viruses, of which 20 are new to science. Two of these were henipaviruses, the same genus as Nipah and Hendra, which have had high fatality rates in humans in previous epidemic outbreaks. Since these viruses can potentially spread through urine, scientists raise concerns about the risk of these pathogens jumping to humans or livestock via contaminated fruit from the orchards. The findings underscore the need for a multi-organ screening approach to understand the microbial diversity harboured by bats. Scientists call for 'comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations'. "By analysing the infectome of bat kidneys collected near village orchards and caves in Yunnan, we uncovered not only the diverse microbes bats carry, but also the first full-length genomes of novel bat-borne henipaviruses closely related to Hendra and Nipah viruses identified in China,' they say.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
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.'
