Thailand confirms discovery of new coronavirus in bats
Thai authorities have confirmed the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in bats in the country. The announcement was made by Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, citing the Anti-Fake News Center (AFNC) in a statement published on its Facebook page, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The ministry said the information about the virus detection is authentic. According to the authorities, the new coronavirus was identified in bats through a wildlife disease surveillance system based on the One Health concept, which involves coordinated monitoring of threats affecting humans, animals, and the environment.
“At present, no human infections have been detected,” the ministry said in a statement.
Preliminary data suggests that the new virus has a lower transmission potential and causes milder illness compared to COVID-19. Authorities also noted that existing COVID-19 vaccines may help protect against the new virus. The risk of widespread transmission is currently considered low.
As Qazinform News Agency reported earlier, WHO confirmed eight hantavirus-linked cases connected to the cruise ship, including three deaths.