Scientists have to find out how dangerous they are.
Bats are carriers of six new coronavirus belonging to the same family as the virus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the pandemic COVID-19.
This discovery was made by a group of scientists from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and conservation biology Institute (USA). Their study published in PLOS ONE.
coronaviruses are a family of viruses, including January 2020, 40 species of them. The name associated with the structure of the virus, spinous processes which resemble the solar corona. To the family are affecting a person’s SARS-CoV (the causative agent of atypical pneumonia), MERS-CoV (pathogen middle East respiratory syndrome), SARS-CoV-2, and others.
the Researchers studied bats from Myanmar that live in the wild, but in close proximity to people. They took samples of saliva and feces of more than 400 bats belonging to different types.
the 48 samples was found 7 coronaviruses. Six of them were not previously known to science. According to scientists, will need further investigation to determine whether carry viruses dangerous to humans. Many of the coronaviruses affect only animals.
Anna Lysenko
