Researchers reveal global hot spots for emergence of coronavirus

WASHINGTON DC: A new study found that changes in land-use across the world, including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production, are creating ‘hot spots’ favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses. These hot spots also have ripe conditions for the diseases to jump from bats to humans. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of California, Polytechnic University of Milan, and Massey University of New Zealand.    

The exact origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are unclear till date. However, scientists believe that the disease likely emerged when a virus that infects horseshoe bats was able to jump to humans, either directly through wildlife-to-human contact, or indirectly by first infecting an intermediate animal host. This is a popular theory because horseshoe bats are widely known to carry a variety of coronaviruses, including strains that are genetically similar to the ones that cause the COVID-19 infection and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The researchers used remote sensing to analyse land-use patterns throughout the horseshoe bat’s range, which lies from Western Europe to Southeast Asia. They first identified areas of forest fragmentation, human settlement, and agriculture and livestock production, then later compared these to known horseshoe bat habitats. Next, they were able to identify potential hot spots where habitat is favorable for these specific bats, and where these zootonic viruses could potentially jump from bats to humans.