HKU5-CoV-2: A new coronavirus in bats, called HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered by the scientists at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. This virus is similar to the virus that causes Covid-19. According to the scientists, the virus was found in a lab and has not been seen in humans and there is no need to panic as it does not spread to humans easily.
What is HKU5-CoV-2 and how does it spread?
The HKU5-CoV-2 virus was found to use the same human receptor as SARS-CoV-2 which was responsible for Covid-19. The newly discovered bat coronavirus belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which includes the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus with a new lineage of the HKU5 coronavirus which was initially identified in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong.
HKU5-CoV-2 comes from the HKU5 coronavirus family and has a special feature, called a furin cleavage site, that helps it enter cells through the ACE2 receptor protein just like the Covid-19 virus.
According to the lab tests, HKU5-CoV-2 could infect human cells that had high ACE2 levels, especially in the intestines and airways but it is not known if it can spread from animals to humans. While it has been found in bats, not all coronaviruses infect people. Some only cause mild illnesses like the common cold, while others can be more serious, like Covid-19 and SARS.
Renowned virologist Shi Zhengli led the study with scientists from the Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology were involved in the research and the findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell.
Symptoms
Since HKU5-CoV-2 has not been seen in humans, its exact effects are unknown. However, viruses from the HKU5 family share symptoms with MERS, such as:
- Fever
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
Precautions
- To stay safe, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommends:
- Keeping up with vaccinations
- Washing hands regularly
- Wearing masks in crowded places
- Practising good hygiene
- Being careful if you have other health issues
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