Wuhan Researchers Discovered a New Covid-Like Bat Virus With the Capability to Infect Human Cells

The world following the Covid-19 pandemic is still very cautious to prevent any such events in the future, however, it has been reported now that a new Covid-like bat virus has been discovered by the researchers of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. From what has been revealed, this new virus also uses the same means to enter human cells and infect it, just like the Covid 19 virus.

Read more about it below.

‘HKU5-CoV-2’ Covid-Like Bat Virus Discovered by Wuhan Researchers

During the research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, the research team led by Virologist Shi Zhengli has discovered a new Covid-like bat virus – ‘HKU5-CoV-2’. It is revealed to belong to the ‘merbecovirus’ subgenus and it binds to the ACE2 receptor, just like the Covid 19 virus. The research study published in the Cell journal, notes that ‘HKU5-CoV-2′ virus’ capability to infect human cells (as well as other variety of mammals) was identified in a laboratory setting and there is no real case of such an infection.

Speaking more, the risks or symptoms that can cause as a result of the ‘HKU5-CoV-2’ virus is still unknown, and the Wuhan researchers states that the current efficiency or strength of the virus to infect human cells is far lower when compared to that of the Covid 19 virus. Also, its potential to cause a global pandemic is speculative too at this point, but its infectious capability in multiple mammal species do raise a concern about a possible transmission on to humans.

While the discovery of the ‘HKU5-CoV-2’ virus is a reminder and warning regarding the virus threats that may arise, researchers for now have called for heightened monitoring and also for the deeper study of the virus and its potential.