OREANDA-NEWS. According to Anna Speranskaya, head of the genomics and post-genomic research group of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, the study showed that some bats living in Russia have coronavirus. However, it will take about two years to find out which type of virus it is.

Anna Speranskaya explained that their research was not completed. It will take scientists about two years to complete the work. So far, the study has shown only that there are some coronaviruses in bats living in Russia, although it is not yet known which coronaviruses. What kind of viruses, further research will show. The study also made it possible to establish the genome sequences of a number of other viruses  that were found in bats along with coronaviruses.

The expert clarified that they are examining only bats from the Moscow region. According to her, these animals tend to avoid contact with humans and are no more dangerous than other street or wild animals. So, it is enough for a person not to touch them and not to destroy their habitats. She adds that if, nevertheless, a person finds a bat sitting on the ground, then you can carefully, after putting on gloves, put it in a box and take it to specialists in an animal rehabilitation center, and specialists will take care of the animal.