Scientists in China have sounded the alarm over a newly identified coronavirus variant, HKU5-CoV-2, which has the potential to jump from animals to humans. The latest findings were published in the Cell Medical Journal by a research team from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, led by renowned virologist Zhengli Shi, known as ‘Bat Woman’ due to her extensive studies on coronaviruses. Shi previously contributed to identifying the origins of major outbreaks, including SARS in 2003, MERS in 2012, and COVID-19 in 2019.
According to the research, HKU5-CoV-2 enters human cells through ACE2 receptors, the same mechanism used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused COVID-19. Initially discovered in bats, the virus has not yet been detected in humans, but its potential ability to infect people has raised concerns among scientists. Indian health experts, however, have pointed out that the virus has not shown significant mutations that would enhance its ability to spread among humans. Dr. Sanjeev Bagai likened HKU5-CoV-2 to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) but stated that the current risk of a pandemic is low.
Meanwhile, Dr. Upalabd Gopal, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, emphasized that the new virus is not as effective as SARS-CoV-2 in utilizing ACE2 receptors, reducing its immediate threat to human health. While experts caution against panic, they stress the need for continued research and surveillance to understand the virus’s potential mutations and transmission patterns.
