Credit score: CSIRO
Scientists at CSIRO, Australia’s nationwide science company, have recognized a brand new virus in Australian flying foxes, a discovery that strengthens Australia’s preparedness towards rising infectious ailments.
The findings are revealed within the journal Rising Infectious Ailments.
Named Salt Gully virus, the novel henipavirus was found in bat urine samples collected in Queensland. CSIRO researchers have been capable of isolate and develop Salt Gully virus in CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Illness Preparedness (ACDP) excessive containment laboratory.
Salt Gully virus belongs to the identical virus household as Hendra virus, which has induced deadly infections in horses and people in Australia, and Nipah virus, identified for inflicting outbreaks in people throughout Asia.
Jennifer Barr, experimental scientist at CSIRO’s ACDP, stated henipaviruses are acknowledged by the World Well being Group as precedence pathogens for analysis, and the invention will increase data of this necessary virus group.
“Although Salt Gully virus is new to science, there’s no cause for public alarm,” Mrs. Barr stated. “We’ve detected Salt Gully virus in bat samples dating back to 2011, which shows it’s been circulating in nature for over a decade without any evidence of it causing illness in animals or humans,” Mrs. Barr stated.
This discovery gives a basis for additional analysis into how the virus compares with Hendra and Nipah, together with its potential to trigger illness.
“Early findings show Salt Gully virus does not rely on the same cell receptors as Hendra or Nipah viruses, suggesting that the infection process will be different. As a result, we can’t predict whether it will result in future disease outbreaks in humans or animals,” Mrs. Barr stated.
By understanding these viruses, researchers can higher put together for potential outbreaks.
“Now that we’ve identified the virus, diagnostic tests can be developed. This means if a spillover from bats and disease outbreak were to occur, we’d have the tools to detect this virus earlier—enabling timely measures to prevent further spread,” Mrs. Barr defined.
The prevailing Hendra vaccine for horses stays efficient towards Hendra virus illness, and Salt Gully virus doesn’t compromise this safety. Its discovery doesn’t change the present well being threat posed by bats.
ACDP is a crucial a part of Australia’s preparedness for illness outbreaks. Its microbiologically and bodily safe amenities permit groups to work safely with animal and zoonotic ailments whereas holding them securely contained.
The analysis marks a major step ahead in understanding viruses that originate in wildlife and will pose a threat to livestock and human well being.
Extra info:
Jennifer Barr et al, Novel Henipavirus, Salt Gully Virus, Remoted from Pteropid Bats, Australia, Rising Infectious Ailments (2025). DOI: 10.3201/eid3109.250470
Quotation:
Newly found virus in bats helps strengthen Australia’s defenses towards rising infectious illness (2025, September 2)
retrieved 2 September 2025
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