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20 New Bat Viruses Discovered: Urgent Human Risk Alert

6/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers in Yunnan province, China, have identified 20 new viruses in bats, including two closely linked to the lethal Nipah and Hendra viruses. Found in bat kidneys, these viruses pose a worrying threat of transmission to humans and livestock via contaminated fruits, prompting experts to call for urgent research to evaluate the risks of spillover.

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Story summary

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers in Yunnan province, China, have identified 20 new viruses in bats, including two closely linked to the lethal Nipah and Hendra viruses. Found in bat kidneys, these viruses pose a worrying threat of transmission to humans and livestock via contaminated fruits, prompting experts to call for urgent research to evaluate the risks of spillover.