Global Health Warning: Infectious Bat Virus Emerges in Brazil, Igniting Fears of Human Pandemic
New Virus Found in Bats Sparks Concern for Potential Pandemic
Scientists have identified a novel coronavirus in bats in Brazil, which shows striking similarities to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory illness that has caused widespread outbreaks worldwide. The discovery has sparked concerns about the risk of another global pandemic.
Researchers from the Brazilian states of São Paulo and Ceará, in collaboration with colleagues from Hong Kong University, conducted a study to examine the genetic sequences of 423 oral and rectal swabs from 16 different bat species. The team discovered seven coronaviruses in samples collected from bats in Fortaleza, a city in northeastern Brazil.
The newly identified virus bears a genetic sequence with approximately 72% similarity to the MERS-CoV genome, according to the study published in the Journal of Medical Virology. The Spike protein of the new virus, which is responsible for binding to mammalian cells, shows 71.74% similarity with the MERS virus spike protein. "Right now, we aren’t sure it can infect humans, but we detected parts of the virus’s spike protein suggesting potential interaction with the receptor used by MERS-CoV," said Bruna Stefanie Silvério, first author of the article.
To clarify the risks posed by the new virus, the researchers plan to conduct further experiments in Hong Kong later this year. "This monitoring helps identify circulating viruses and risks of transmission to other animals, and even to humans," said Ricardo Durães-Carvalho, an author of the study.
The finding highlights the critical role of bats as reservoirs for emerging viruses and emphasizes the importance of continuous surveillance to track public health risks linked to coronaviruses. "Our studies show the importance of making this type of analysis more systematic, optimized, and integrated, with several sectors participating and generating data on unified platforms that can be used by health systems to monitor and even prevent epidemics and pandemics," the researcher added.
As the world struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the discovery of a new virus with potential to cause another global outbreak is a sobering reminder of the ongoing threat posed by zoonotic diseases, which can jump from animals to humans. The identification of the new coronavirus in bats underscores the need for continued research and surveillance to protect public health.
Keywords: COVID-19, MERS, coronavirus, bats, pandemic, public health, surveillance
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/new-pandemic-alert-another-bat-coronavirus-found-in-brazil-sparks-concerns-over-human-infection/articleshow/119127512.cms
Category :
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-03-17 23:27:00
