China: Fears of New Pandemic as Dangerous Viruses Found in Bat Kidneys

The city of Yunnan province is under the microscope of the scientific community after the discovery of two new viruses, reigniting fears of a new pandemic. Researchers from the Yunnan Institute for the Control and Prevention of Endemic Diseases in China identified two novel viruses in bats that are closely related to deadly pathogens known to cause severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease in humans. The findings were published in an open-access journal. In the study, researchers examined the kidneys of 142 bats from ten species collected over four years in five areas of Yunnan province, China. Using advanced genetic sequencing, the team discovered 22 viruses, 20 of which had never been observed before. Among the most concerning were the newly identified Henipa viruses, belonging to the same genus as the Nipah and Hendra viruses, notorious for their high mortality rates in humans. These viruses were found in fruit bats living near orchards close to human settlements. Since Henipa viruses can spread through urine, the study raises concerns about contaminated fruits and the risk of transmission to humans or animals. The research also identified a new protozoan parasite and two particularly abundant bacterial species, one of which is newly discovered.