Scientists Discover New Coronavirus in Thai Bats That May Be Able to Infect Humans

Reflecto News | Breaking News | Global Health

BANGKOK — An international team of researchers has discovered a novel coronavirus in bats in Thailand that has the potential to infect humans, raising concerns about zoonotic spillover and the possibility of future outbreaks, according to a study published in the journal Nature .

The newly identified virus, named Krabbe coronavirus (KRCV-1) after the province where it was detected, belongs to the same family of coronaviruses as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that killed millions globally between 2020 and 2023 .

🧬 The Discovery: What Scientists Found

Researchers from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected fecal samples from 450 horseshoe bats in Krabi province, southern Thailand, between 2024 and 2026 . Genetic sequencing identified a novel betacoronavirus with a receptor-binding domain (RBD) capable of attaching to the same ACE2 receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter human cells .

“The virus uses the same ACE2 receptor for cell entry, which suggests it could potentially infect human cells,” lead study author Dr. Somchai Kaewpoolsri told reporters .

⚠️ ‘A Signal We Cannot Ignore’

While the study was conducted in laboratory settings on cell cultures — not on live animals or humans — public health officials are taking the discovery seriously .

“This is a signal we cannot ignore. We must ramp up surveillance in bat populations and high-risk zones to monitor for any further changes that could increase the risk of this virus adapting to human transmission.” — Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Epidemic Preparedness Lead

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added KRCV-1 to its “priority pathogen” watchlist, which tracks viruses with pandemic potential .

🔮 Current Risk Level: Low, But Mitigation Underway

As of May 2026, there is no evidence that KRCV-1 has infected any human being. The study did not involve exposing human subjects or animals to the virus, and the research was conducted in strictly contained biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories .

Nevertheless, the Thai government has initiated a public health response, including enhanced surveillance in communities near bat habitats, educational campaigns for cave explorers and ecotourists, and the development of a diagnostic test for KRCV-1 .

🌏 Why This Matters: The Spillover Threat

The discovery underscores the continuing risk of zoonotic spillover — the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans — driven by factors such as deforestation, wildlife trade, and encroachment into natural habitats .

The horseshoe bat species found to carry KRCV-1 is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, and researchers have already detected the virus in bat colonies in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam .

While it may never cause a human outbreak, the discovery is a reminder that the international community was caught off guard by SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 — and that robust surveillance is the only reliable defense against the next pandemic .

📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers

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