Yaravirus: Mysterious new virus with never seen before genes discovered in Brazil

While the world is still dealing with the deadly Coronavirus epidemic, scientists have identified an enigmatic virus whose genome seems to be almost entirely new to science, the new virus has been named, Yaravirus.

The new virus has been named Yaravirus after Yara, a supernatural mermaid who lured soldiers underwater to live with her.

While Yaravirus (Yaravirus brasiliensis) may be no supernatural siren, the virus could prove to be just as mysterious as the water nymph of legend.

Researchers found over 90 per cent of Yaravirus genes have never been seen before, making it ‘mysterious’ and wholly unique.

“It would be necessary to isolate new viruses similar to Yaravirus to improve our analysis and try to define their origin,” senior author Jônatas Abrahão, an associate professor in the microbiology department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil said. Though they isolated the virus only recently, it is possible this virus has been circulating on Earth for ages, Abrahão said.

In any case, Yaravirus doesn’t infect human cells.