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All you need to know about new covid strain found in bats that could spread to humans

A new group of coronaviruses has been discovered circulating among bats in Thailand, with researchers warning one strain may be capable of bonding with human cells under the right conditions

[Bats were found with a new Covid strain (stock)]

Bats were found with a new Covid strain (stock)(Image: Getty Images/Johner RF)

Here is everything we know about the new bat coronavirus

1. As the globe grapples with a lethal 'rat virus' outbreak, coronavirus has emerged once more to cause concern.
2. Scientists have discovered a fresh variant of Covid-19 in bats that could potentially spread to humans.
3. Experts have identified a new cluster of coronaviruses spreading amongst bats in Thailand.
4. The researchers, hailing from several universities, worry that one of these newly discovered strains might be able to latch onto human cells given the right circumstances.
5. These fresh mutations all fall under the same broader category as Covid-19, known as sarbecoviruses, according to fresh research published in the journal Cell.
6. The scientists emphasised that no instances of this new strain have been detected in people.
7. Dr. Spyros Lytras, one of the study's co-first authors, said: "This is clear evidence that SARS-CoV-2-related viruses which utilise different entry receptors co-circulate in and co-infect the same bat populations, opening up the possibility that they can swap parts of their genome through recombination and readily change their receptor usage".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: Mutated Covid strain found in bats as boffins fear it can infect humans