Researchers have identified new viruses, bacteria and parasites among bats in orchards in China’s south-west — with two of the viruses being closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses. Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of microorganisms, including many notable pathogens that have been transmitted to humans. In the new study, researchers looked inside the kidneys of 142 bats from 10 species, collected over four years across five areas of China’s Yunnan province. “Although Salt Gully virus is new to science, there’s no cause for public alarm,” Barr said. This means if a spillover from bats and disease outbreak were to occur, we’d have the tools to detect this virus earlier — enabling timely measures to prevent further spread.”