Thai scientists catch bats to trace coronavirus origins

Closest match to the coronavirus has been found in horseshoe bats in southern China

Published: August 15, 2020 15:54 AP

1 of 12

Kanchanaburi, Thailand: Researchers in Thailand have been trekking though the countryside to catch bats in their caves in an effort to trace the murky origins of the coronavirus. Image Credit: AP

2 of 12

Initial research has already pointed to bats as the source of the virus that has afflicted more than 20.5 million people and caused the deaths of over 748,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Image Credit: AP

3 of 12

The closest match to the coronavirus has been found in horseshoe bats in Yunnan in southern China. Image Credit: AP

4 of 12

Thailand has 19 species of horseshoe bats but researchers said they have not yet been tested for the new coronavirus. Image Credit: AP

5 of 12

Thai researchers hiked up a hill in Sai Yok National Park in the western province of Kanchanaburi to set up nets to trap some 200 bats from three different caves. Image Credit: AP

6 of 12

The team from the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases-Health Science Center took saliva, blood and stool samples from the bats before releasing them. Image Credit: AP

7 of 12

They worked through the night and into the next day, taking samples not only from horseshoe bats but also from other bat species they caught in order to better understand pathogens carried by the animals. Image Credit: AP

8 of 12

The team was headed by Supaporn Wacharapluesadee, the center's deputy chief, who has studied bats and diseases associated with them for more than 20 years. Image Credit: AP

9 of 12

He was part of the group that helped Thailand confirm the first COVID-19 case outside China in January. Image Credit: AP

10 of 12

She believes it is likely they will find in Thailand's bats the same virus that causes COVID-19. "The pandemic is borderless," she said. "The disease can travel with bats. It could go anywhere" Image Credit: AP

11 of 12

A researcher swabs a bat's mouth to take samples at Sai Yok National Park in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand. Image Credit: AP

12 of 12

A researcher measures a bat inside Sai Yok National Park in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand Image Credit: AP

Photos News

Thai scientists catch bats to trace coronavirus origins

More From Photos

India: Kerala on alert as West Nile fever reported in 3 districts

Wife of Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan moved to jail on her request, lawyer says

Fighter jet crashes at Singapore airbase

Pakistan says attack that killed Chinese engineers was planned in Afghanistan

GULFNEWS SECTIONS

Trending

Thai scientists catch bats to trace coronavirus origins

More From Photos

India: Kerala on alert as West Nile fever reported in 3 districts

Wife of Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan moved to jail on her request, lawyer says

Fighter jet crashes at Singapore airbase

Pakistan says attack that killed Chinese engineers was planned in Afghanistan

GULFNEWS SECTIONS