A renowned zoologist has unveiled a groundbreaking discovery of a previously unknown virus with the potential to infect humans almost as severely as Covid.
Speaking at a World Health Organization (WHO) event focused on pandemic research preparedness, Dr Peter Petszak, head of the New York-based non-profit er DaEcoHealth Alliance, presented findings related to this new virus found in bats.
Despite EcoHealth’s funding being withdrawn and its projects in China canceled due to concerns about links to the Covid lab leak theory, the organization continues its operations in Thailand and other parts of Asia, backed by substantial US government grants.
Dr Daszak highlighted ongoing efforts to identify potentially harmful animal viruses in Southeast Asia, a pursuit that some scientists caution may pose a risk of triggering a future pandemic.
At the WHO conference, Dr Daszak, a close associate of Dr Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor to the US President, shared insights about the bat coronavirus discovered in a cave in Thailand.
READ MORE: World leaders preparing for disease 20 times deadlier than Covid
He said: “We found a lot of SARS-related coronaviruses, but one in particular we found was quite common in bats where people were commonly exposed. And this virus is shed in bat faeces, so there is a real potential for emergence.”
While defending the natural origin of Covid and dismissing the lab leak theory, Dr Daszak revealed that the newly discovered virus is closely related to both SARS-CoV2 (Covid) and RATG13, sharing a 96 percent genetic match with Covid.
He underscored the virus’s ability to bind to human tissue “almost as well” as Covid, raising concerns about its potential for transmission.
Dr. Daszak said: “We have a virus in bats, right now in a cave used by people highly exposed to bat faeces”, acknowledging the virus’s emergence potential.
Despite reassurances that vaccination and previous Covid exposure in the region provide protection, Dr Daszak advised taking all necessary precautions. Additional analysis uncovered a pathogen related to the Moijang virus, which caused fatal pneumonia in Chinese miners in 2012.
This revelation follows EcoHealth Alliance’s controversial $650,000 US-Government funded project to investigate bat coronaviruses in Asia. Dr Daszak commented on the virus surveillance project: “In some parts of the region, we are working with very resource-poor areas so we are using basic technology that can work in BSL-2 labs.”
BSL, short for Biosafety Level, ranges from 1 to 4, with the higher rating indicating a more secure lab. He added: “But we know that most people in the region have either had Covid or been vaccinated, and that will provide really good protection, we think, against this virus.”
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/ExpressUSNews and @expressusnews
