Bats Could Become a New Wild Card in the Global Spread of Bird Flu

According to Rokna, citing The ScienceNews, scientists are raising fresh concerns that bats may play an unexpected role in the future spread of avian influenza, following evidence that vampire bats in South America have been exposed to the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Recent scientific findings indicate that vampire bats in parts of Peru carry antibodies associated with H5N1, suggesting they were infected at some point in the past. While no active outbreaks have been confirmed among bats, the discovery has drawn attention because bats are known to harbor and spread a wide range of viruses without showing severe symptoms.

Experts warn that the involvement of bats could complicate global efforts to monitor and control bird flu. Unlike birds or domesticated animals, bats are highly mobile, live in large colonies, and often interact with multiple species. This creates conditions that could allow the virus to circulate silently and potentially adapt to new mammalian hosts.

Researchers believe the bats may have been exposed through feeding on infected wildlife, particularly in coastal regions where bird flu has caused large die-offs among seabirds and marine mammals. Each spillover of the virus into a new species increases the possibility of genetic changes that could make the virus more transmissible or dangerous.

So far, there is no evidence that bats are spreading bird flu to humans. However, scientists emphasize that early warning signs should not be ignored. The situation highlights the importance of expanded wildlife surveillance, particularly among mammals that have frequent contact with both animals and humans.

Health experts stress that understanding how H5N1 behaves in bats is critical to assessing future risks. As the virus continues to circulate globally, identifying new potential reservoirs remains a key priority in preventing wider outbreaks and safeguarding public health.