Translation exclusive: Scientists discover Kiwira virus – a type of hantavirus – in free-tailed bats in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, a disease in which the virus can kill up to a third of infected people.
According to the ‘Daily Mail’ newspaper, Dr. Sabrina Weiss, head of public health at the Center for International Health Protection in Berlin, revealed the details of the new virus in Viruses magazine and noted that free-tailed bats cover ‘large areas’ of sub-Saharan Africa.
Since this species is known to roost “in and around human habitation,” Sabrina warned, “the potential for spreading Kywera virus to humans must be taken into consideration.”
The researchers said that hantavirus often causes general fever-like symptoms, so it may be difficult to detect, which is why no human infections have been detected so far.
