Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 30, 2025 8 hours, 5 minutes ago
Medical News: Discovery in Colombian Bats Raises Global Concerns
A new coronavirus has been identified in bats in the Caribbean region of Colombia, and experts warn it could potentially spark the next deadly pandemic. The research was carried out by scientists from the Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico at Universidad de Córdoba, the Universidad de Santander, and the Departamento de Bacteriología at Universidad de Córdoba. The discovery is worrying because the virus has characteristics that suggest it could spread from bats to humans or pigs very easily, and possibly jump further across species. This
Medical News report explains why this new finding is raising alarms.
New Coronavirus Identified in Colombia That Can Cause the Next Deadly Pandemic
How the Virus Was Found
As part of a public health surveillance study, researchers captured several bats and analyzed samples from their intestines and rectal swabs. In the Phyllostomus hastatus bat, they discovered a complete viral genome belonging to the coronavirus family. Genetic sequencing showed it to be a previously unknown Alphacoronavirus, a group that has already been linked to human illnesses such as the common cold.
The real danger lies in the virus’s spike protein, which plays a key role in how viruses attach to and invade cells. Computer modeling revealed that this spike protein is very similar to those found in coronaviruses that infect both humans and pigs. This means the new bat virus could potentially bind to a key receptor called aminopeptidase N, opening the door to interspecies transmission. The preliminary data also indicates that once the virus infects humans, its is likely to cause severe infections that can be fatal for many.
Potential for Spillover to Humans and Animals
The study warns that pigs could act as amplifiers for this virus, just as they have in other coronavirus outbreaks, making it easier for transmission to reach humans. The risk is not theoretical. The virus shares structural similarities with human coronaviruses and could evolve quickly through mutations, adapting to new hosts.
Evolutionary Background of the Virus
Genetic analysis shows that this coronavirus has been evolving for thousands of years. Scientists estimate that its closest ancestors go back around 11,000 years, and it belongs to a clade of viruses also found in bats in Peru and Brazil. The high level of similarity to known human and animal coronaviruses is what makes this discovery so concerning.
Why It Matters Now
Bats are natural reservoirs for many viruses, and as human activity continues to destroy natural habitats and increase contact with wildlife, the chances of spillover events rise. This newly identified virus is the first complete genome of a coronavirus discovered in Colombian bats, and its ability to potentially infect humans and pigs highlights the urgent need for stronger surveillance systems and global prepared
ness.
Final Thoughts
While there are no known cases of human infection so far, this study is a stark reminder that the world remains vulnerable to new viral threats. The similarities in this Colombian bat coronavirus to those already capable of infecting people show how close we may be to another dangerous outbreak if monitoring and preventive measures are not strengthened.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Viruses
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/10/1320
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Medical News.
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