Korea bats carry viruses similar to MERS, study shows
Korea bats carry viruses similar to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a study found. /Yonhap
By Lee Jin-a
Researchers have found viruses similar to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in bats in Korea.
A joint research team from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) and Korea University said on Monday that they had found viruses similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and MERS.
It was the first time these viruses have been found in bats in Korea, even though similar cases have been reported in China, Taiwan and Europe.
The researchers analyzed 49 feces of bats in 11 habitats from July to December last year.
“There is a small possibility that humans can be infected with the viruses from the bats,” said KRIBB researcher Kim Hye-kwon.
“However, we need to monitor the viruses constantly because they are genetically similar to the infectious diseases.”
The report was published in the May edition of the international medical journal, "Transboundary and Emerging Diseases."