By Richa Noriega

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines in Mindanao has recognized betacoronavirus in a bat species in Davao.

According to a report by GMA News on Thursday, lead researcher Lyre Anni Murao said after their three-year-long study, a virus was found in the long-tongued nectar bat (macroglossus minimus).

One out of 49 bats tested positive for betacoronavirus with a 2.04 percent detection rate, the report said.

Murao said bats are known to be reservoirs of viruses, meaning they carry the viruses in their body but are not affected by them.

“Coronaviruses have been living with these bats for a very long time already. Interestingly, we also found out that these coronaviruses belong to a different group compared to the SARS and the MERS coronaviruses,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ferchito Avelino, Director of Epidemiology Bureau at the Department of Health (DOH), said the novel coronavirus stemmed from the same betacoronavirus family that includes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

“’Yung MERS, ‘yung SARS, ‘yung novel coronavirus (nCoV) are all family ng betacoronavirus. Sila ang (They are) known to have caused mga severe type of respiratory tract infection,” Avelino said.

The coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Studies found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans, it added.

Murao noted that it doesn’t necessarily mean the virus found in the long-tongued nectar bat is a threat. “There’s no evidence yet that they can be linked to human cases.”

She advised the public to avoid disrupting the habitats of bats, in which a natural pollinator of the forest. “As long as we keep the habitats of the bat intact, we do not disturb their habitats, there is a less chance of exposure of the humans to the bats.”

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Thursday the first case of nCoV in the country, involving a 38-year-old woman from China who complained of a mild cough.

The DOH had initially placed under strict monitoring and investigation 27 foreign nationals for 2019-nCoV.

The remaining 23 foreigners will continue to be monitored until completely cleared. (With a report from Analou De Vera)

READ MORE: DOH confirms 1st case of 2019-nCoV in PH