They have more and more contact with humans and are one of the most common rodents in Europe. Swedish researchers have identified a rapidly spreading new coronavirus in them. Is Grimsö virus transmitted by voles a threat to humans?
- In 3,4 percent a new coronavirus of the beta genus, named by scientists, was detected in a study of voles in Sweden Grimsö virus
- The new vole virus has not yet been transmitted to humans. Currently, scientists do not know what potential threats it may have to our health
- Previously, other closely related coronaviruses were widespread among voles in other parts of Europe, including Poland
- As the climate warms up, wildlife will also be forced to move their habitats closer to humans. Consequently, the risk of transmission of the virus from rodents to humans will increase
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Not only bats may be carriers of the new coronaviruses. Rodents such as rats, mice, and voles can also transmit them. Red voles are also one of the most popular rodents on our continent. That is why, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Swedish scientists made an attempt to monitor the disease of voles. Their goal was to increase the scientific chances of effectively predicting the spread of dangerous zoonoses.
Virus monitoring should continue
Swedish scientists began their research in 2015 and conducted them for three years. During this time, 450 bank voles were tested, and 3,4 percent. of all samples collected, the presence of the new beta coronavirus was detected. From the place of its detection, the coronavirus was named Grimsö.
Betacoronaviruses are usually found in bats and rodents, and when transmitted to humans, they are responsible for the common cold and respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Although the new vole virus has not yet been passed on to humans, with COVID-19 in mind, scientists emphasize that research into the interaction of wild animal diseases and human health is extremely important.
We still do not know what the potential threats to public health the Grimsö virus could pose. However, based on our observations and previous coronavirus cases identified in voles, there are good reasons to continue monitoring for coronaviruses in wild rodents
— underlines virologist Ake Lundkvist from Uppsala University in Sweden, quoted by ScienceAlert.
Contact with voles
In a study published on June 2022, XNUMX in the scientific journal Viruses, the researchers also point out that previous studies found that other closely related coronaviruses were widespread among voles in other parts of Europe, such as France, Germany and Poland.
Moreover, with climate change, ecosystem destruction and habitat degradation, we are increasingly exposed to interactions with wildlife.
Given that voles are one of the most common rodent species in Sweden and Europe, our results indicate that Grimsö virus may be widespread among voles and highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance of coronaviruses in wild small mammals, especially wild rodents.
— the authors of the study emphasize in the introduction.
Researchers at Georgetown University also point out that wild animals will be forced to move their habitats as the climate warms up. According to the study published in April this year, the animals will probably move to areas inhabited by large human populations. The consequence will be a drastically increasing risk of transmission of the virus to humans, which could lead to another pandemic.
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