Chinese Bats Host Newly Identified High-Risk Viruses
- admin928749
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
In a discovery that’s raising a few eyebrows (and some alarms), scientists in China have found 20 brand new bat viruses, including two closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses.
Researchers examined the kidneys of 142 bats from 10 species, collected over four years from five locations in Yunnan province. Using advanced genetic sequencing, they identified 22 viruses in total — 20 of which have never been seen before.
What’s causing the most concern are two new henipaviruses — the same family as Nipah and Hendra — both of which are known to cause severe and often fatal illness in humans.
These new viruses were found in fruit bats living near orchards, close to villages where people live and work. Since henipaviruses can spread through bat urine, and these were found specifically in the kidneys, it raises an obvious worry: contaminated fruit or direct contact could lead to the viruses jumping to humans or animals.
Should We Be Worried?
Dr Alison Peel, a wildlife disease ecologist and vet from the University of Sydney, says it’s too early to panic.
“It’s concerning, yes,” she said, “but we don’t yet know if these new viruses can actually infect humans.”
She explained that there are other viruses closely related to Hendra and Nipah that don’t pose any real threat, so more lab testing is needed to understand the actual risk.
Dr Peel also noted that the situation in Yunnan offers a lesson for Australia.
“Our research on Hendra in Australia shows that habitat destruction and food shortages push bats closer to people, which increases the chance of virus spillover,” she said.
“Instead of blaming bats, we’ve found that protecting their food sources helps reduce the risk — and it’s a sustainable solution.”
A Wake-Up Call for Australia?
Associate Professor Vinod Balasubramaniam from Monash University says this discovery should not be taken lightly, especially given how similar rural Australian landscapes are to the bat-friendly orchards in Yunnan.
“The similarities are striking,” he said. “And with the level of global travel and trade today, a virus outbreak in China could quickly make its way to Australia.”
He said the study gives new insight into the importance of monitoring bat kidneys specifically — and that enhanced biosecurity and surveillance in Australia is crucial right now.
More updates to come on AusNewsLanka.
Comments