A controversial research group previously linked to experiments in Wuhan reported the discovery of a new virus found in bats in Thailand.
New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, headed by Dr Peter Daszak, described the new discovery during a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) about research focused on preparations for future pandemic.
The group previously had funding to find viruses in China cut over concerns of links to COVID lab leak conspiracy theories.
Dr Daszak detailed his team’s efforts to discover further animal viruses that could threaten human populations.
The zoologist’s activities have attracted widespread criticism from across the scientific community over fears of causing new pandemics.
Researchers have continued to operate in Thailand and other parts of Asia thanks to millions in US government grants.
Dr Daszak confirmed his team has already identified a never-before-seen virus in bats in Thailand.
Speaking at the WHO event, he said: “We found a lot of SARS-related coronaviruses, but one in particular we found was quite common in bats where people were commonly exposed.”
The zoologist said the new virus had yet to be named and was found in a Thai cave where local farmers source bat feces to fertilize their fields.
The British-born scientist has repeatedly dismissed the lab leak theory and insisted the coronavirus has natural origins.
He said researchers concluded the newly-discovered virus is a close relative of COVID-19 noting its as “almost” the same potential of infecting humans as coronavirus does.
Dr Daszak is a specialist in zoonosis, the branch of zoology analyzing viruses’ potential to jump from animals to humans.
He added: “We consider this to be a potential zoonotic pathogen. Here we have a virus in bats, right now in a cave used by people highly exposed to bat faeces.
“And this virus is shed in bat faeces, so there is a real potential for emergence.”
However, he noted that the high incidence of Covid cases in the Thai region where the virus was first discovered provides a good protection levels to the local population.
He added: “We know that most people in the region have either had Covid or been vaccinated and that will provide really good protection, we think, against this virus.”
