New Coronavirus Detected in Bats in Great Britain

A previously unknown sarbecovirus, or RhGB01, has been found in bats living in Great Britain's Somerset, Monmouthshire, and Wales regions. This was reported by Scientific Reports.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia collected bat feces and conducted genomic research, identifying the virus in one of 53 samples collected. RhGB01 is classified among coronaviruses and contains coding genes for ten proteins associated with SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, including the ORF8 gene.

The virus is categorized in the same subgroup as coronaviruses, including the novel coronavirus. It is suspected that it could be transmissible to humans, and bats may contend with infections from both the newly discovered virus and a new variant of the coronavirus. Research into this coronavirus subtype is ongoing.