Mapping the Potential Risk of Coronavirus Spillovers in a Global Hotspot.

ABSTRACT: Bats harbor approximately a third of known mammal viruses, including the recent coronaviruses SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 that likely spilled over in Asia. As spillover risk increases due to habitat loss and fragmentation, we identified potential zoonotic spillover and pandemic risk hotspots by combining landscape characteristics with the diversity of competent hosts, with horseshoe bats (genus Rhinolophus) used as proxies for zoonotic pathogen reservoir hosts. We estimated the risk of coronavirus emergence in South and Southeast Asia by integrating Rhinolophid species distributions, forest fragmentation, and human population density data. Two scenarios were considered: one using baseline forest cover data, and another incorporating new regional infrastructure which drives further fragmentat

SUBMITTER: Lapuz RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12445407 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature