New Delhi: Another coronavirus similar to the Covid 19 virus that has brought the world to a standstill has been discovered in China. The virus, named HKU5-CoV-2, was discovered by a team led by Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli, known as the “Bat Woman”. The research was conducted at the Guangzhou Laboratory.
Like the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, the new virus was also found in bats. It is a virus that can spread to humans. However, researchers say that they are studying in detail the possibility of spreading from animals to humans. Similar to Covid, the new variant can also enter human cells through the ACE2 receptor.
The new virus belongs to the Merbecovirus subfamily, which includes the MERS virus. The presence of the HKU5 coronavirus was previously confirmed in Japanese pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. It is believed that this new variant has now been discovered.
