Latest news with #PLOSPathogens
India.com
3 hours ago
- Health
- India.com
New Super-Viruses Found In China: 20 Times More Dangerous Than COVID? Scientists Warn Of Possible Future Pandemic!
photoDetails english 2924174 Updated:Jun 30, 2025, 10:36 AM IST Covid in India 1 / 13 Just when the world began healing from the scars of the COVID-19 pandemic, a chilling new discovery has reignited global concern. Scientists in China have identified 20 brand-new viruses, some genetically similar to Nipah and Hendra, known to be far more lethal than the coronavirus. These viruses were found in bats and pose a potential threat to both animals and humans. Study Uncovers Alarming Viral Diversity in Bats 2 / 13 A collaborative study by Chinese scientists and international researchers, recently published in PLOS Pathogens, analyzed kidney tissue samples from 142 bats across five locations in China's Yunnan province, collected between 2017 and 2020. The result? The genetic sequencing unveiled 22 viral species, 20 of which were previously unknown to science. Yunnan virus discovery 3 / 13 Even more alarming, two of the newly identified viruses belong to the Henipavirus family, the same category that includes Hendra and Nipah, which are highly fatal and have no specific treatments or vaccines for humans. Echoes of Wuhan and COVID-19 4 / 13 The discovery is eerily reminiscent of 2019, when COVID-19 first emerged from Wuhan, allegedly linked to bats and wet markets. That pandemic left over 7 million people dead worldwide, crippled economies, and redefined daily life. Now, history may be preparing to repeat itself, unless this new warning is heeded in time. Bats: Nature's Virus Reservoirs 5 / 13 Bats have long been known as carriers of multiple pathogens, including rabies, SARS, and Ebola. In this recent study, along with the new viruses, scientists also detected a new species of bacteria and a parasitic organism called Klosiella yunnanensis. This supports the idea that bats could serve as "incubators" for viruses capable of jumping to humans, setting the stage for another zoonotic outbreak. How Could These Viruses Spread? 6 / 13 Experts warn that these viruses could infect humans through bat urine contaminating fruits, water, or soil. Once in contact, humans or animals consuming the contaminated sources could become infected. Such transmission patterns resemble how Nipah virus outbreaks occurred in South Asia, where bat-contaminated date palm sap led to human fatalities. What Symptoms Could They Cause? 7 / 13 The potential symptoms from these new viruses are terrifyingly similar to past pandemics: 1. Severe respiratory illness 2. Brain inflammation 3. Nervous system damage 4. Sudden death in extreme cases Like COVID-19 and Nipah, these viruses can affect vital organs, with high fatality rates and limited treatment options. No Outbreak Yet, But the Threat Is Real 8 / 13 Although no pandemic has yet emerged from these new viruses, scientists urge the global community not to downplay the findings. According to the study's authors, early detection must be met with proactive global surveillance and health preparedness, as nature's warning signals are becoming harder to ignore. Time for the World to Wake Up Again 9 / 13 The discovery is a clear reminder: while we may have battled COVID-19, the war against future pandemics is far from over. Strengthening international health infrastructure, funding preventive research, and enforcing wildlife monitoring policies are the urgent needs of the hour. Super viruses in China 10 / 13 Nature has thrown us yet another red flag, and this time, the world can't afford to look away. Virus in bats China 11 / 13 If these viruses go unchecked, the next pandemic could already be lurking in the shadows of China's caves. The only question is: Will we act in time? 12 / 13 (Pic Credits: ANI, Freepik, AI-Image) 13 / 13 (This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Why bats are a global concern for pandemics: A look at their role in past and emerging viruses
Source: YouTube Bats, the winged mammals, are essential to ecosystem pollination, to give just one example, and control of insects, among others. And in addition to their utility to ecosystems, they are also the bearers of a dark reputation: as reservoirs for an impressive variety of deadly viruses that have caused a number of human pandemics. In the past half-century, there has been a foreboding trend—most leading-impact viruses like SARS, MERS, Ebola, Nipah, COVID-19, and more have their origin in bats directly or indirectly through intermediate hosts. Bats are not villains but their unmatched viral diversity, asymptomatic shedding, and growing contact with humans position them at the heart of emerging infectious disease threats. 20 new bat viruses discovered in China Researchers have found 20 new bat viruses previously unknown to science, including two that are closely related to the lethal Nipah and Hendra viruses. Experts say this finding may pose critical global public health consequences. The viruses were found in six bats from fruit orchards in Yunnan province, which is in southwest China. The researchers discovered that the bats had unidentified pathogens in their kidneys, which was of concern for possible zoonotic transmission. Released in the PLOS Pathogens journal, the research identified that of the 20 new viruses discovered, two are part of the henipavirus family and have similar genes to Nipah and Hendra viruses both recognised to inflict extreme and usually deadly diseases on people. Why are bats linked to so many viral outbreaks Source: YouTube Tremendous species diversity and global distribution Bats represent over 22% of all mammalian species, with over 1,400 known species worldwide as per the research published in Nature. Such diversity allows for a wide range of viruses to thrive and evolve within bats. Because they occupy all continents except Antarctica, their extensive global presence increases the possibility of viruses jumping across species to humans or pets. Immune tolerance to viruses in a special way Unlike other mammals, bats have evolved an extremely specialised immune system that enables them to carry viruses without exhibiting disease symptoms. Studies show that bats often demonstrate a dampened inflammatory response, allowing viral replication without the lethal immune response. This creates bats as excellent 'incubators' of viruses to evolve, mutate, and in some cases, become more virulent or transmissible to humans. High levels of viral diversity and co-infection According to the research, thousands of novel viruses have been discovered in bats, including members of at least 28 viral families, including: Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2) Henipaviruses (Nipah, Hendra) Filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) Lyssaviruses (Rabies and related lyssaviruses) A single bat can be infected with multiple viruses, increasing the potential for viral recombination; the principal mechanism for the emergence of new pathogens infecting humans. Bat-origin viruses that changed the world Bats have been directly or indirectly responsible for many of the deadliest viral outbreaks of the 21st century: Virus linked to bats SARS (2002): Had its origins in horseshoe bats; civets were an intermediate host. MERS (2012): Traceable back to bats via camels. Ebola Virus: Evidence suggests fruit bats were the natural hosts. Nipah Virus: Spread by consuming contaminated date palm sap in Bangladesh. COVID-19 (2019): Close relative of bat-borne SARS-related coronaviruses. These serial spillovers strongly suggest that bats are not only passive vehicles, but active sources of high-risk viruses with the ability to adapt to infect humans. Ecological triggers behind bat-borne virus outbreaks Habitat loss and urban expansion Urbanisation and habitat loss compel bats to have increased contact with humans, increasing the risk of cross-species transmission. For instance, as forests are cleared, bats may roost in houses, fruit plantations, or agricultural fields causing the increased contact of humans with bat saliva, urine, or feces. Farming practices and livestock interactions Modern farming systems, especially high-density livestock ones, are generating "spillover hotspots." Intermediate hosts of bat-borne viruses are animals such as pigs and horses that harbor such viruses such as Nipah and Hendra viruses. Seasonal patterns and nutritional stress Bats are seasonally breeding and most often have food shortages due to climatic variations. These are stressors that can weaken their immunity and enhance viral shedding. In fact, seasonal surges of virus shedding in bat populations have been coincident with mass outbreaks of Hendra in Australia and Nipah in South Asia, as reported. Why studying bat viruses remains a scientific challenge Even with rising awareness, it remains hard to grasp how viruses interact among bats through several obstacles: Limited longitudinal data: Most studies track individual bats infrequently, making it hard to examine viral persistence or reinfection. Shortage of bat-compatible laboratory models: Human- or monkey-derived cell lines predominate that are utilized, and they are not supportive for the replication of bat viruses. Mysteries of bat immunity: Why bats can tolerate, suppress, or shed viruses is yet to be known. Until these problems are solved, the ability to anticipate or control the next bat-origin pandemic is in question. Do bats get sick from these viruses Perhaps the biggest enigma is the fact that bats rarely show signs of sickness, even when infected with viruses that kill humans. Facts suggest: Innate immunity: Bats have interferon pathways in baseline activation, which allows them to quell viruses early on without inflammation. Reduced pathological immune response: Bats, unlike humans, do not experience the pathological "cytokine storms" typically leading to acute disease during viral infection. Heterogeneity of adaptive immunity: Antibodies in bats are transient or non-neutralizing. Viral clearance in most cases is via cell-mediated immunity, rather than by long-term antibodies. These immune responses possibly facilitate chronic viral infections and asymptomatic transmission—virus persistence and spillover risk absolutely relying on these. Also Read | NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovers new planet TWA 7b orbiting a young star 111 light-years away
NDTV
4 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
20 new bat viruses discovered in China, two closely linked to deadly Nipah and Hendra
Scientists have discovered 20 new bat viruses in China, including two linked to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses. Experts have warned that the discovery could have "critical implications" for public health across the world. The discovery was made in fruit orchards in Yunnan province, southwest China, where bats were found carrying unknown pathogens in their kidneys. The study, published in the PLOS Pathogens journal, revealed 20 previously unknown viruses, including two henipaviruses genetically similar to Nipah and Hendra viruses, which can cause high-fatality illnesses in humans. "These findings broaden our understanding of the bat kidney infectome, underscore critical zoonotic threats, and highlight the need for comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations," the study's authors wrote. The team, led by Guopeng Kuang from the Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention and Tian Yang from Dali University in China, raised concerns about transmission to humans due to the proximity of bats to orchards. The virus can spread through contaminated fruits, water or direct contact. Researchers analysed 142 bats from ten species, finding a diverse range of microbes, including a new protozoan parasite (Klossiella yunnanensis) and a novel bacterium (Flavobacterium yunnanensis). While it's uncertain if these viruses can jump from bats to humans, scientists will monitor them closely because of their genetic similarity to dangerous viruses. As quoted by Science Alert, University of Sydney veterinarian and wildlife disease ecologist Alison Peel, pointed out: "We have other examples of close evolutionary cousins to Hendra and Nipah that appear not to be of any concern for spillover, so there will need to be some more laboratory studies on these new viruses to determine the actual risk." She was not involved in the study.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
‘What can we do with this, other than watch it multiply?': Expert warns over lab-grown bat viruses as 20 new strains discovered
Scientists are sounding the alarm after 20 new viruses were discovered in fruit bats in southern China - including two that are genetically similar to the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses. The findings, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, have prompted fresh warnings over future spillover threats to humans and livestock - but not all the concern is about the viruses themselves. Australian infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon has raised concerns over the way such viruses are being studied, warning that lab-based research may give dangerous pathogens a 'head start'. 'It's a concern that these viruses are often grown in laboratories in human or monkey cell types, and you have to ask yourself - what can we do with this other than watch it multiply?' Professor Collignon told The viruses were uncovered after researchers examined the kidneys of 142 fruit bats from the Yunnan province, a biodiversity hotspot bordering Myanmar and Laos. Unlike most studies that analyse bat droppings, this research focused on organ tissues - uncovering a trove of previously unknown viruses and revealing a rarely studied viral reservoir. Two of the viruses, dubbed Yunnan bat Henipavirus 1 and 2, are particularly concerning due to their genetic similarities to Hendra and Nipah - pathogens known for causing fatal outbreaks in humans and animals, with fatality rates as high as 80 per cent. The viruses, which can spread via bat urine, were found in animals roosting near orchards and villages - raising concerns about possible transmission to livestock or people via contaminated fruit or surfaces. The Hendra virus, first detected in Brisbane in 1994, has caused the deaths of four people and dozens of horses in Australia. With flying fox populations increasingly seen in peri-urban and agricultural areas, the environmental conditions in Yunnan are drawing direct comparisons to those in parts of Australia. But as more of these viruses are found, debate is growing over whether the act of studying them - particularly in labs - could pose its own risks. 'With what's happening at the moment by growing these viruses in a lab in human cell lines, it's only giving the virus a head start in an ability to infect people rather than just bats,' Mr Collignon said. 'We get information about it, which is obviously important, but there's usually no other benefit - except maybe the people carrying out the study getting extra grants.' He said the value of identifying these viruses is often overstated, arguing that knowing about Covid-19 in bats before the pandemic made little difference to prevention. 'We knew about coronaviruses including those from bats, long before the pandemic happened, but really, how does that help? It didn't really,' he said. 'We likely only know about one per cent of the viruses out there. Knowing about them doesn't always mean we can stop them.' Mr Collignon also questioned public messaging which linked bat virus studies to current vaccine campaigns, calling it misplaced and potentially misleading. 'Like coming out now and trying to prevent this virus harming people by telling people to get the current Covid vaccine. It just won't help, as it's very unlikely we will get cross protection' he said. 'It's misleading information.' Ecologists, meanwhile, say the real issue is habitat destruction - not laboratory research. Deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and food shortages are forcing bats to forage closer to human environments, which has been linked to increased risk of zoonotic spillover in both Asia and Australia. A 2023 study of Hendra outbreaks in horses found a strong link between bat food scarcity and virus transmission. As natural food sources decline, bats have been increasingly observed feeding in orchards and farms, heightening the risk of contact. Many ecologists argue conservation - not culling - is key to reducing the risk of disease emergence. Maintaining native food sources and restoring natural habitats can help bats stay away from farmland, they say, reducing spillover risk at the source. While there's no evidence the newly discovered viruses have yet infected humans, the discovery highlights how little is still known about the microbial world carried by wildlife - especially in biodiversity hotspots. Mr Collignon stressed the importance of balancing research with caution. 'There's always going to be that natural concern between bats, the viruses they carry and the risk to the public,' he said. 'But giving [a virus] a head start as part of research program that grows these viruses in human cell lines is not good.' Experts are calling for a more ecological approach to disease prevention - one that treats habitat protection as frontline public health.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
20 new viruses found in bats in China - two are worrying scientists most
A total of 22 viruses were found after researchers looked at the insides of bats' kidneys in the Yunnan province, raising concerns over the health of the world's population A staggering 20 new viruses have been discovered in bats in China that could seriously impact public health across the globe. Scientists studied inside the kidneys of 142 bats from 10 different species that were collected over a four-year period across China's Yunnan province in the southwest. A total of 22 were discovered, with just over 90% of them previously unknown until now. The results were published in the PLOS Pathogens journal and two viruses in particular are giving cause for concern, according to medical experts. A pair of henipaviruses were found in fruit bats living close to fruit orchards near local villages. One of them is now the closest-known relative of the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses. These pathogens can be spread through urine and have mortality rates between 40 and 80%. They can also trigger severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease in humans and are a significant threat to livestock. Fears have been raised about potential fruit contamination that could then be transmitted to animals or people if they ate the food. 'These findings broaden our understanding of the bat kidney infectome, underscore critical zoonotic threats, and highlight the need for comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations,' the study's authors said. In Australia, there have been 66 known outbreaks of the Hendra virus since the 1994, reports It first emerged in that year and devastated racing stables in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra - which is what the pathogen is named after - killing a trainer and 13 horses. Four people and dozens of horses have died since as a result of the virus. Vinod Balasubramaniam, a virologist at Monash University in Australia, said that the discovery 'hold(s) special relevance' for the country because of its history of Hendra outbreaks linked to bat populations. The associate professor added: "The similarity between Australian rural environments and Yunnan's orchards near human settlements stresses the urgency of intensified surveillance and biosecurity measures." While University of Sydney wildlife disease ecologist Dr Alison Peel said the discovery highlights the 'potential opportunities for contact' with humans. Research published in 2023 by Dr Peel on the Hendra virus spill over in Australia 'has demonstrated clear links between habitat destruction, loss of natural food, and increased spill over risk." She added that this could be the case in China. Virologist Dr Yong Gao (Nias) Peng also warned that the findings hold 'critical implications' for not only the public health of Australia but also the rest of the world. Dr Peng noted: 'While the findings are based on bat kidney samples and do not confirm imminent outbreaks, they reveal how much we still don't know about the microbes bats carry. 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." Elsewhere, an rare rabies-like virus has been detected in the UK after an injured bat was rescued from a back garden. The resident wore gloves when they picked up the animal and put it in a shoebox overnight at their home in Shorwell on the Isle of Wight. The following day, volunteers from the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital took it away. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that the bat was found to have been infected with a virus that caused rabies. An investigation by the Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) found no scratches or bites to humans or animals.
