A new bat virus capable of infecting humans has been discovered in Thailand, according to a report by Express.co.uk. The controversial research group, previously linked to experiments in Wuhan, made the finding. Dr. Peter Daszak, the head of the New York-based non-profit EcoHealth Alliance, unveiled the never-before-seen virus during a World Health Organization meeting. The virus, which has yet to be named, was found in a Thai cave where local farmers use bat feces as fertilizer.
Dr. Daszak stated that the team discovered several SARS-related coronaviruses, with one being particularly common in bats that people frequently come into contact with. He emphasized the potential for this virus to become a zoonotic pathogen, as it is shed in bat feces and people in the area are highly exposed to it. It is worth noting that Dr. Daszak has consistently dismissed the lab leak theory and maintained that the coronavirus has natural origins.
This discovery comes at a time when the World Health Organization reported a surge in global coronavirus cases, with hospitalizations increasing by 42% across 50 countries. The rise in cases is attributed to the JN.1 Covid variant, first detected in France in September and accounting for around 60% of new infections in early January. While the WHO has classified JN.1 as a “variant of interest,” it states that it poses a low global public health risk. The JN.1 sub-variant was previously categorized as a variant of interest within the BA.2.86 sub-lineage.
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