Another Pandemic? Scientists Discover New Bat Virus With Potential Spread
Recent research by a group of Chinese scientists has raised alarm about a new coronavirus found in bats that may have the potential to spread from animals to humans.
The virus, called HKU5-CoV-2, shares a similar receptor with the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, known as SARS-CoV-2. This discovery has prompted concerns about whether another pandemic might be on the horizon.
The study, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, involved researchers from several prestigious institutions, including the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Their research was led by Shi Zhengli, a renowned virologist often referred to as “Batwoman” for her extensive work on bat coronaviruses.
Also, read| North Korea Reopens Borders For Foreign Tourists: First Time Since COVID-19
The newly identified virus, HKU5-CoV-2, belongs to the merbecovirus group, which also includes the virus responsible for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
The researchers found that the virus, first discovered in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong uses the same human receptor, ACE2, as the virus responsible for Covid-19. This receptor is crucial because it is the same one SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter human cells.
The research team notes that HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to the ACE2 receptors not only in humans but also in other animals, such as bats.
This increases the likelihood that the virus could jump from animals to humans, similar to how SARS-CoV-2 emerged.
However, while HKU5-CoV-2 shows a stronger ability to bind to these receptors compared to its original version, the researchers stressed that it is not as powerful or as contagious as SARS-CoV-2.
Despite these findings, experts stated that the chances of HKU5-CoV-2 causing a major human outbreak at this stage remain low.
According to the researchers, while the virus shows promise for cross-species transmission, its actual ability to spread widely among humans is still uncertain.
Also, read| Alarming Rise In Male Suicides In India: What Is The Root Cause?
The discovery of HKU5-CoV-2 comes at a time when China is already grappling with a rise in cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a flu-like illness.
Although images of hospitals flooded with masked patients have circulated widely on social media, health experts have clarified that HMPV is not like COVID-19. It is a virus that has been around for many years and tends to cause seasonal increases, especially during the winter months.
Some bad-faith accounts have been making the claim that China is facing a new epidemic.
This is not true. Public areas are 100% normal.
I went to the main lobby of my local hospital in Beijing to show folks that its functioning as normally.#China pic.twitter.com/28cNZuo15l
— Jason Smith – 上官杰文 (@ShangguanJiewen) January 7, 2025
However, the timing of the rise in cases, combined with the new research on the bat virus has sparked fears that another pandemic-like situation could unfold, even though experts have downplayed these concerns.
Health officials assert that while HMPV has led to more cases recently, it is far less concerning than COVID-19 and does not carry the same level of risk for widespread human transmission.
The new virus, HKU5-CoV-2, was found to infect human cells as well as lab-grown lung and intestinal tissues.
The researchers were able to demonstrate that the virus can bind to ACE2 receptors in both humans and animals, suggesting that it could potentially be transmitted across species.
While there is still no clear consensus on the exact origin of HKU5-CoV-2, some studies propose that it may have first originated in bats before jumping to humans, possibly through an intermediate animal host.
Despite this potential for cross-species transmission, the risk of widespread human-to-human transmission remains unclear.
