A team of Chinese researchers have discovered a new bat coronavirus, named HKU5-CoV-2, that has the potential to infect humans, according to reports. This virus binds to the same receptor as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Led by virologist Shi Zhengli, who is referred to as "Batwoman" for her extensive research on bat coronaviruses, the study has sparked concerns over a possible future pandemic. Researchers caution that while the virus can infect human cells, its transmission risk remains significantly lower than that of COVID-19. Here’s everything we need to know about this new virus and the potential threats it poses.
