Scientists have recently discovered a previously overlooked bat‑borne virus infecting humans in Bangladesh, reigniting fears around zoonotic diseases like the deadly Nipah virus — but with an important twist. The pathogen isn’t Nipah itself, but a different virus that can cause very similar illness.

What Was Found? A Hidden Bat Virus, Not Nipah

Researchers analysing archived clinical samples from patients in Bangladesh who had symptoms consistent with Nipah virus infection (such as fever, headache, nausea, neurological problems and respiratory issues) discovered that standard tests repeatedly came back negative for Nipah.

Instead, using advanced genomic sequencing techniques, scientists identified Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV) — a bat‑borne virus previously known mostly from animals and rare human cases. They confirmed active infections by growing the virus in culture from patient samples.

How It Likely Spread to Humans

In all identified cases, the patients had recently consumed raw date‑palm sap, a traditional seasonal drink in bangladesh and a known route of bat‑to‑human virus transmission for Nipah. fruit bats — the natural reservoir for many viruses — feed on date palm and can contaminate sap with saliva, urine or feces.

Why This Discovery Matters

1. Mimics Nipah Yet Isn’t Detected by Standard Tests

PRV produces Nipah‑like symptoms but does not show up in routine tests focused on Nipah virus detection. This means previous outbreaks attributed to Nipah could have involved undiagnosed PRV infections or co‑infections.

2. Potential for Serious Illness

Although PRV was previously associated with milder disease in Southeast Asia, the bangladesh cases were more severe, with prolonged symptoms in survivors and at least one reported death in earlier documented cases. This suggests the virus may be evolving or behaving differently in this region.

3. Broader Risk Beyond Nipah

The finding implies that multiple bat‑borne viruses may already be infecting humans in South Asia, especially where humans and bats frequently interact — particularly during raw date‑sap harvesting seasons.

How This Fits With Nipah Virus Monitoring

While this new virus isn’t Nipah, the backdrop to this discovery is a real and ongoing concern about Nipah virus outbreaks:

Recent Nipah cases in india (West Bengal) have been confirmed, with public health teams monitoring contacts and reporting low risk of widespread transmission.

The World health Organization (WHO) considers Nipah a high‑fatality zoonotic infection with no approved vaccine and emphadata-sizes surveillance and infection control.

So while PRV is a distinct virus, it highlights the broader problem of hidden zoonotic threats lurking alongside known ones like Nipah in bat‑habitat regions.

What Experts Recommend

Given the discovery and its implications, researchers and public health experts stress several priorities:

📍 Expand Surveillance

Broader viral monitoring in patients with “Nipah‑like” symptoms should include tests beyond Nipah virus to catch other bat‑borne pathogens like PRV.

📍 Change Diagnostic Protocols

Health systems in endemic regions may need more comprehensive testing panels for respiratory and neurological symptoms following bat exposure or raw date‑sap consumption.

📍 Public Education

People in affected regions are advised to:

Avoid raw date‑palm sap unless boiled or otherwise treated.

Seek medical care promptly for symptoms like fever, severe headache, vomiting or breathing problems following exposure to bat habitats or bat‑contaminated foods.

Key Takeaways

A new bat‑borne virus (PRV) has been detected in humans in bangladesh with symptoms similar to Nipah, but it is not Nipah virus.

Standard Nipah testing doesn’t detect this virus, implying that hidden zoonotic threats may have been overlooked in the region.

The findings highlight the need for broader viral surveillance and updated diagnostic approaches, especially in areas where humans and bats interact closely.

Though related outbreaks like Nipah continue to be monitored, this discovery underscores that multiple bat‑borne pathogens — not just Nipah — can affect human health.

 

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