On the tropical island of Hainan, off the southern coast of China, Chinese scientists have found eight viruses that have never been found before. Experts have cautioned that there is a “high probability” that the viruses, which were discovered in rats, could infect people in the future should they manage to overcome the species barrier.
Researchers entrusted with prepping the world for pandemics to come discovered the finding. Almost 700 samples from rats in Hainan were collected, and eight new viruses were discovered. A virus that produces COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is related to one of the other viruses.
Published in the journal Virologica Sinica, edited by Dr. Shi Zhengli, a scientist dubbed “Bat Woman” for her work on bat coronaviruses, the results were published. Scientists have called for further experiments on the viruses to determine exactly what their effects on humans could be.
The journal Virologica Sinica is the publishing arm of the Chinese Society for Microbiology (CSM). CSM is linked to the state-affiliated China Association of Science and Technology, which ‘accepts administrative supervision’ from the Chinese Government’s ‘Ministry of Civil Affairs’.
682 anal and throat samples from different rats that were caught in Hainan between 2017 and 2021 were analyzed for the new study. After being sorted by particular rodent species and island location, these samples were transported to labs for analysis.
Numerous other “novel” viruses were discovered through analysis, including a coronavirus that the doctors named CoV-HMU-1.
The discovery of these novel viruses is a forceful reminder that there are a great number of unknown diseases, some of which could be dangerous to human health.
