Scientists have discovered six completely new coronaviruses hiding in bats.
They discovered the viruses while surveying bats in Myanmar as part of a program called PREDICT to identify infectious diseases that can potentially spread from animals to humans.
These viruses belong to the same family as the SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease Covid-19 that is currently spreading across the world. However, they are not closely related genetically to SARS-CoV-2 or to other coronaviruses that are dangerous to humans, reports Live Science.
The new viruses were found in three bat species: the Greater Asiatic yellow house bat (Scotophilus heathii), where PREDICT-CoV-90 was found; the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat (Chaerephon plicatus), which was host to PREDICT-CoV-47 and -82; and Horsfield's leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros larvatus), which carried PREDICT-CoV-92, -93 and -96.
The researchers said that more research is required to understand the likelihood of these new viruses to move to other species, and to understand how they might affect human health.
"Many coronaviruses may not pose a risk to people, but when we identify these diseases early on in animals, at the source, we have a valuable opportunity to investigate the potential threat," study co-author Suzan Murray, director of the Smithsonian's Global Health Program, said in a statement.
"Vigilant surveillance, research and education are the best tools we have to prevent pandemics before they occur," she added.
The researchers added that the current devastation caused by Covid-19 worldwide is a reminder of how closely human health is linked to that of animals.
"Worldwide, humans are interacting with wildlife with increasing frequency, so the more we understand about these viruses in animals — what allows them to mutate and how they spread to other species –– the better we can reduce their pandemic potential," lead study author Marc Valitutto, former wildlife veterinarian with the Smithsonian's Global Health Program, said in the statement.
