A recently discovered bat virus that can infect humans has raised concerns about zoonotic transmission in Thailand. The controversial research group behind this discovery, the EcoHealth Alliance, which has previously been linked to Wuhan experiments, reported the discovery during a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting.
Dr. Peter Daszak, the head of EcoHealth Alliance, revealed the discovery of this previously unknown virus in a Thai cave used by local farmers for bat feces fertilization.
During the WHO event, Dr. Daszak stated, “We found a lot of SARS-related coronaviruses, but one in particular was quite common in bats where people were commonly exposed.”
The discovery of a new bat virus emphasizes the ongoing importance of understanding and monitoring potential sources of zoonotic diseases
He added, “We consider this to be a potential zoonotic pathogen. Here we have a virus in bats, right now in a cave used by people highly exposed to bat feces. And this virus is shed in bat feces, so there is a real potential for emergence.”
Dr. Daszak, a British-born scientist, has consistently dismissed the lab leak theory, claiming that the coronavirus has natural origins.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the virus’s origins, the discovery of a new bat virus emphasizes the ongoing importance of understanding and monitoring potential sources of zoonotic diseases.
The discovery comes amid a global surge in coronavirus cases, with hospitalizations increasing by 42% across 50 countries.
The rise is attributed to the JN.1 Covid variant, which was discovered in France in September. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this variant accounted for roughly 60% of all new infections in early January.
The World Health Organization has designated the JN.1 variant as a “variant of interest,” recognizing its rapid spread but assessing it as a “low” global public health risk. JN.1 was originally classified as a variant of interest in the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, but its low-risk classification has raised concerns.