Canberra, Sept. 3 -- Australian scientists have identified a new virus in flying foxes, marking a significant step in tracking emerging infectious diseases.
The virus, named Salt Gully virus, was detected in bat urine samples collected in the Australian state of Queensland and belongs to the henipavirus family, which includes the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the national science agency.
Researchers successfully isolated and grew the virus in CSIRO's Australian Center for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) high containment laboratory in Geelong of the state of Victoria.
Henipaviruses are considered by the World Health Orga...