Scientists have discovered a virus among pigs that a human can be infected with

Researchers from the University of Ohio suggest that the swine virus is one of the new deadly threats to humanity.

Laboratory tests have shown that the swine delta coronavirus readily jumps between the cells of different living beings, including humans.

The pathogen shows common characteristics with deadly viruses that caused atypical pneumonia and the Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome. In general, both viruses have taken more than a thousand lives.

According to the authors of the study, the findings are a cause for serious concern, since scientists do not know how to control the virus yet.

Swine delta coronavirus was first detected among pigs in China in 2012. It was not associated with human diseases.

In 2014 the virus showed the ability to cause diarrhea among pigs in the US state of Ohio, later - around the world. Infected pigs can exhibit symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and in some cases, animals die.

However, a new study demonstrated that the virus targets specific molecule receptors on the surface of cells in airways and the digestive tract. In the course of laboratory experiments the virus tied itself to receptors not only of pigs, but also of chickens, cats and even humans.