A controversial research group, linked to experiments in Wuhan, has reported the discovery of a new bat virus with potential human infectivity in a Thai cave. Dr. Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance made the announcement at a World Health Organisation meeting, revealing that the virus, yet to be named, was found in a cave frequented by local farmers sourcing bat faeces for fertilization.
Speaking at the WHO event, Dr. Daszak expressed concern, stating, “We found a lot of SARS-related coronaviruses, but one, in particular, was quite common in bats where people were commonly exposed.” Emphasizing the potential zoonotic risk, he highlighted the virus’s presence in a cave used by people highly exposed to bat faeces, making emergence a real possibility.
Despite his involvement in the Wuhan controversy, Dr. Daszak, a British-born scientist, has consistently denied the lab leak theory, asserting the natural origins of the coronavirus.
This discovery coincides with the World Health Organisation’s report on a global surge in coronavirus cases, marked by a 42% increase in hospitalizations across 50 countries. The rise is attributed to the JN.1 Covid variant, first identified in France last September. The variant now accounts for approximately 60% of new infections in early January, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The WHO has classified JN.1 as a “variant of interest” due to its rapid spread but deems it a “low” global public health risk. Initially part of the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, the JN.1 sub-variant has now gained separate classification, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the ongoing pandemic.
