Six New Coronaviruses Discovered in Bats

If these new viruses belong to the same family as

SARS-CoV-2, which is currently causing the COVID-19 pandemic; there is no evidence that These coronaviruses pose a real risk to human health.

Researchers from the Smithsonian’s Global Health Program have discovered six new coronaviruses in bats in Myanmar as part of the PREDICT animal biosurveillance project. PREDICT, an initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), supports the global discovery and surveillance of pathogens that could spread from animals to humans.

The findings provide a better understanding of the diversity of coronaviruses in bats and thus inform global efforts to detect, prevent, and respond to infectious diseases that may threaten public health, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This work will guide the monitoring of bat populations to better detect potential viral threats.

This pandemic serves as a stark reminder of just how closely human health is linked to wildlife health and the environment. As human activity increases, so do our interactions with wildlife.

The more we understand animal viruses, how they function, and how they spread, the better we will be able to mitigate the impact of potential future pandemics. 

While experts estimate

Although thousands of coronaviruses—many of which have not yet been discovered —are present in bats, the newly discovered coronaviruses are not closely related to SARS-CoV-1, MERS, or COVID-19.

Future studies will assess the potential for cross-species transmission in order to better understand the risks to human health. Surveillance, research, and education are the best tools we have to prevent pandemics before they occur.