SARS may have originated in bats, study finds
Chinese horseshoe bats responsible for pandemic, scientists say
New research published in the journal, Nature, has confirmed horseshoe bats in China as the origin of the SARS-CoV pandemic in 2002-3.
During the pandemic, 774 of the 8094 people around the world who became infected were killed by the virus.
While researchers have previously shown that bats are natural reservoirs for SARS-like coronaviruses (CoV), they have never before been confirmed as the virus' origin.
A research team led by Professor Shi Zhengli from the Wuham Institute of Virology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, isolated a SARS-like CoV from the faecal samples of Chinese horseshoe bats.
According to scientists, these bats have an important ecological role and are found around the globe.
Researchers say their findings will help governments design more effective prevention strategies for SARS and similar epidemics.
In addition, insights into the role of horseshoe bats in transmitting SARS-CoV highlight the importance of protecting this species natural environment, ensuring that they are not forced into highly populated urban areas for food.
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