What public health threat do bat-associated viruses pose, according to Tian et al. (2022)?

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Answer

Bat-associated viruses have the potential to jump species, causing pandemics in humans. 1, 2

  • Rationale (morbidity, mortality, QOL focus):

    • Evidence syntheses show bats reservoir multiple high-fatality zoonoses (Nipah, Hendra, Ebola/Marburg, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS‑CoV‑2) with demonstrated or plausible spillover to humans and pandemic potential, directly impacting mortality and societal QOL 1, 2.
    • Recent reviews emphasize cross-species transmission as the origin of most human viral pathogens, with bats repeatedly implicated in global outbreaks and pandemics (e.g., SARS-CoV, SARS‑CoV‑2) 2.

  • Pitfalls/caveats:

    • Vaccinating bats is not a practical control strategy; surveillance and exposure reduction are key 2.
    • Bat viruses are not limited to non-human mammals nor to plants; several have caused severe human disease and global crises 1, 2.

References

2
Research

Bat-borne virus diversity, spillover and emergence.

Nature reviews. Microbiology, 2020

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