New coronavirus discovered in Chinese bats sparks alarm

Category: Health

A new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered by a Chinese research team led by virologist Shi Zhengli. This virus has the potential to infect humans, similar to SARS-CoV-2, due to its ability to bind to the human ACE2 receptor. The research indicates a high risk of spillover to humans, necessitating further investigation into its zoonotic potential.

Keywords: coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, spillover risk

Source: Newsweek

Update At: 2/22/2025

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