Many bat species in China are infected with viruses similar to the one that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to findings from an international research team published in the journal “Science” on September 29.
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Bats, one of the “hosts” of the SARS virus. |
Researcher Zheng Li-Shan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and colleagues studied over 400 bats from various species in China and discovered that up to 70% of certain species showed signs of infection with a virus similar to SARS.
This finding supports earlier hypotheses by scientists in Hong Kong suggesting that bats could be a “host” for the SARS virus, following the discovery of multiple bat species in Hong Kong carrying viruses closely related to SARS. Host animals are those that carry disease viruses and can transmit them without becoming ill themselves.
The SARS outbreak originated in China in 2002 and spread worldwide by 2003, infecting 8,000 people and resulting in over 700 deaths. The outbreak was subsequently contained through strict quarantine measures and various other strategies, but experts warn that it could return at any time.
According to scientists, SARS is caused by a novel virus known as SARS coronavirus, which leads to rapid respiratory failure and death in infected individuals, while coronaviruses exist in both humans and animals and are not more dangerous than the common cold.
Similar SARS-like viruses have also been found in animals such as civets, but these are not considered “hosts” for the SARS virus. Based on this research, scientists suggest that extreme caution should be exercised regarding horseshoe bats, which are used as food and medicine in China.
Bats are “hosts” for a number of new viruses such as Hendra and Nipah, but they rarely become ill themselves.
