A team of Chinese scientists have made a remarkable discovery on Hainan, a tropical island. They have identified eight previously unknown viruses, one of which belongs to the same family as the coronavirus. This finding has raised concerns about the potential transmission of these viruses to humans if they breach the species barrier. The Chinese Government funded this project.


The study, documented in Virologica Sinica journal, involved collecting 682 anal and throat samples from rodents inhabiting Hainan from 2017 to 2021. These samples were then examined in laboratories.


According to the research paper, "The 682 samples were grouped into 28 pools based on rodent species, swab types, and sample locations."


Analyzing the results revealed the presence of eight new viruses, including a betacoronavirus within the coronavirus family.


"We sequenced the virome and identified coronaviruses, flaviviruses, parvoviruses, astroviruses, and papillomaviruses carried by rodents, while also determining the viral abundance in each sample pool," the experts wrote.


This research further unveiled two novel flaviviruses, similar to those responsible for yellow fever and dengue, as well as a previously unknown astrovirus connected to meningitis and aseptic encephalitis.


Furthermore, two parvoviruses that cause flu-like symptoms and arthritis in adults, along with two papillomaviruses known for causing persistent infections in human skin and mucosal membranes, were discovered.


The experts emphasized that these newly identified flaviviruses and parvoviruses were found specifically in the Edwards’s long-tailed giant rat and the Sikkim rat species.


"By broadening our understanding of viral classification and host range, our findings suggest the existence of highly diverse, undiscovered viruses that have independently evolved in unique wildlife hosts in remote and inaccessible regions," the experts stated.


"If these viruses cross the host barrier, there is a high likelihood of zoonotic transmission."