A never-before-seen virus with significant potential to infect humans, similar to Covid, has been discovered in bats in Thailand by a research group linked to Wuhan. Dr. Peter Daszak, the head of New York-based non-profit organization EcoHealth Alliance, made the announcement at a World Health Organization (WHO) event focused on future pandemic research preparedness. Despite EcoHealth’s funding being cut and its projects in China canceled, the organization continues to operate in Thailand and other parts of Asia with multi-million dollar grants from the US government. Dr. Daszak, a close associate of Dr. Anthony Fauci, shared his team’s efforts in Southeast Asia to identify threatening animal viruses, despite concerns about the potential risks of these virus-hunting experiments causing future pandemics.
At the WHO conference, Dr. Daszak revealed that his team had already discovered a bat coronavirus of significant interest. The virus, which remains unnamed, was found in a cave in Thailand regularly visited by farmers who use bat faeces as fertilizer for their crops. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the virus is closely related to both SARS-CoV2 (the scientific name for Covid) and RATG13, a pathogen sharing 96 percent genetic similarity with Covid. Dr. Daszak emphasized that additional experiments revealed the new virus’s ability to bind to human tissue, almost as effectively as Covid.
We consider this to be a potential zoonotic pathogen, Dr. Daszak warned. He highlighted the risk of human exposure to the virus shed in bat faeces, especially considering the close proximity of the virus to people in the cave. However, he also noted that the majority of individuals in the region either have had Covid or received vaccinations, which should provide substantial protection against this new virus.
Further analysis conducted in the cave identified another pathogen related to the Moijang virus, which caused fatal pneumonia among Chinese miners in 2012. Dr. Daszak’s findings have reignited discussions about the origins of Covid, as he staunchly defends the virus’s natural origin and dismisses the lab leak theory.
As concerns about future pandemics grow, Dr. Daszak’s discovery underscores the importance of diligent research and preparedness. The identification of potential zoonotic pathogens allows scientists to better understand and respond to emerging health threats. However, questions remain about the safety of conducting virus-hunting experiments, especially in regions where human-animal interactions are common.
While this latest discovery raises concerns, Dr. Daszak highlights the protective benefits of previous Covid infections and vaccinations in the region. As the world continues to combat the Covid pandemic, ongoing research into emerging viruses is crucial to minimizing the risks of future outbreaks.
In conclusion, the research group linked to Wuhan has uncovered a never-before-seen virus in Thai bats, signaling its potential to infect humans. Dr. Daszak’s presentation at the WHO event shed light on the ongoing efforts to identify threatening animal viruses, despite the controversy surrounding their research methods. The discovery highlights the need for continued research and preparedness to prevent future pandemics.
