Biogeographic barrier that protects Australia from avian flu does not stop Nipah virus

(Public Library of Science) An invisible barrier separates land animals in Australia from those in south-east Asia may also restrict the spillover of animal-borne diseases like avian flu, but researchers have found that fruit bats on either side of this line can carry Nipah virus, a pathogen that causes severe human disease. The findings are published April 24 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Andrew Breed from the University of Queensland, Australia and colleagues from other institutions.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news