Scientists have discovered a previously overlooked bat-borne virus infecting humans in Bangladesh, raising public health concerns. The virus, called Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV), was initially mistaken for the deadly Nipah virus due to similar symptoms.
The study, led by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, analyzed throat swabs from five patients who showed Nipah-like illness but tested negative for the virus. Genetic tests confirmed active PRV infection in multiple samples.
Researchers linked all cases to the consumption of raw date palm sap, a popular winter delicacy in Bangladesh. Bats often contaminate the sap, which is already a known transmission route for Nipah virus. The study suggests that PRV and other bat-borne viruses may be infecting humans more frequently than previously recognized.
Symptoms in the infected patients included fever, vomiting, headache, fatigue, excessive salivation, and neurological complications. The cases were recorded between December 2022 and March 2023 and were identified through a Nipah virus surveillance program run by Bangladesh’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), icddr,b, and the US CDC.
“This discovery highlights that health risks from raw date palm sap extend beyond Nipah virus,” said Nischay Mishra, senior author of the study. He emphasized that doctors in Bangladesh should now consider PRV when treating patients with Nipah-like symptoms.
Bats are natural hosts for many dangerous viruses, including Nipah, Hendra, Marburg, rabies, and SARS-CoV-1. Experts warn that human exposure to these viruses poses a serious public health risk.
The research, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, calls for stronger surveillance, improved diagnostic testing, and public awareness campaigns in Bangladesh. Scientists urge caution with raw date palm sap consumption and recommend broader monitoring for bat-borne viruses in the region.
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This discovery underlines the ongoing threat of zoonotic diseases and the need for preparedness in Bangladesh to prevent potential outbreaks.
