Sat Feb 22 06:00:00 UTC 2025: ## New Bat Coronavirus Discovered in China, Raises Zoonotic Concerns
**Beijing, China** – A new bat coronavirus, named HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered in China, sparking concerns about its potential for zoonotic transmission – the spread of disease from animals to humans. The virus, identified by a team of virologists led by renowned scientist Shi Zhengli (“Batwoman”), shares similarities with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research, published in an unnamed source, reveals that HKU5-CoV-2 can bind to human ACE2 cells, a key receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect humans. Laboratory tests showed the virus capable of infecting human cell cultures. While the study highlights the virus’s potential for spillover to humans, it also emphasizes that its binding affinity to human ACE2 is significantly lower than that of SARS-CoV-2. This, along with other factors, suggests a reduced risk of widespread human infection.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota downplayed fears of another pandemic, citing existing population immunity to similar SARS viruses. However, the discovery underscores the ongoing threat of novel coronaviruses originating in bat populations and the importance of continued surveillance and research. Further investigation is needed to fully assess the virus’s potential risk to human health.
First Piper 