Raccoon dogs, minks in focus as China animal study uncovers dozens of new viruses

Viruses found include 36 new ones and 39 at ‘potentially high risk of cross-species transmission’, including human spillover, study says

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The latest findings point to the need to monitor farmed animals to prevent future pandemics, according to co-author of study published in Nature. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:02pm, 6 Sep 2024Updated: 7:14pm, 6 Sep 2024

A study of more than 450 fur animals in China has revealed dozens of new viruses and cross-species infections, including some with high risk of human spillover.

Raccoon dogs and minks carried the highest number of potentially high-risk viruses, according to findings published in the latest issue of Nature, including a mink virus closely related to those only found in bats so far.

Of the 28 species sampled, most of the animals were farmed for their fur, meat or medicinal properties, and all of them were dead.

“Fur farming represents an important transmission hub for viral zoonoses,” the study authors said, with some viruses having already spilled over to humans.

Scientists from several Chinese universities and some from overseas took part in the research, including Edward Holmes, a virologist at the University of Sydney.

In early 2020, Holmes helped Shanghai virologist Zhang Yongzhen become the first to publicise the genome sequence for Sars-CoV-2 – the coronavirus strain that causes Covid-19. The sharing of the data with the international community helped to speed up vaccine development as the pandemic raged.