Researchers have identified four new forms of hantavirus, and they determined that the deadly pathogen may have originated in bats rather than rats or other rodents as originally thought, according to new research. Although the research does not advance treatment of hantavirus, researchers said it makes important public health contributions. "The analysis shows that bats are likely to be important hosts from which new hantaviruses may emerge in the future and possibly pass to humans," said Australian researcher Eddie Holmes.