New virus detected in China. Here’s what you need to know

Medical experts have warned 20 new bat viruses have been identified in China, with two closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, known for high fatality rates in humans.

Medical experts have identified new bat viruses in China.

Medical experts have sounded the alarm after 20 new bat viruses were identified in China, urging Australians to remain vigilant.

And two viruses were found to be closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, which were known for their high fatality rates in people.

The discovery was made after researchers looked inside the kidneys of 142 bats from ten species, which were collected over four years across the Yunnan province in China.

Advanced genetic sequencing found 22 viruses among bats in orchards in China’s southwest, with 20 of those never having been recorded before.

The two related to Hendra and Nipah virus, henipaviruses, were found in fruit bats living near the orchards close to local villages.

Because henipavirus can spread through urine, the study’s authors have raised concerns about the virus jumping to humans or livestock through contaminated fruit.

The deadly Hendra virus has previously wreaked havoc across Queensland, in 1994 the disease swept through racing stables in the Brisbane suburb of the same name, killing a trainer and 13 horses.

Since then, there have been 66 known outbreaks across Australia, killing four people and dozens of horses.

The findings have sparked warnings for Aussies to be vigilant.

University of Sydney wildlife disease ecologist Dr Alison Peel said the fact that the bats infected with the Hendra-like virus were captured in fruit orchards highlighted “potential opportunities for contact” with humans.

“Our research on Hendra virus spill over in Australia has demonstrated clear links between habitat destruction, loss of natural food, and increased spill over risk – so this may also be the case in China,” Dr Peel said.

“Rather than focusing on bats as the problem, we’ve also shown evidence that protecting and restoring bat food sources is an effective and sustainable solution. These ecological solutions reduce spill over risk while also supporting healthy bat populations and ecosystems.”

Virologist Dr Yong Gao (Nias) Peng said the findings carried “critical implications” for public health in Australia and globally.

“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,” Dr Peng said.

“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.”

The University of Queensland’s Professor Tim Mahony said the study highlighted how little knowledge there was about the viruses that infect bats and those that exist in our world more generally.

“The detection of two viruses that are closely related to Hendra virus and Nipah virus is of particular interest. While the Hendra and Nipah viruses are highly lethal to humans, infection is rare, particularly for the Hendra virus,” Professor Mahony said.

Originally published as New virus detected in China. Here’s what you need to know