A newly discovered Covid virus in China, close to the HKU5 strain, may be on the brink of infecting humans, posing serious pandemic risks. Scientists from Washington State University warn that the virus, currently spreading among bats, could mutate to jump to humans, echoing concerns reminiscent of the initial Covid outbreak. Professor Michael Letko indicates that the virus's characteristics have not been thoroughly studied until now, highlighting the danger of wildlife trade contributing to human exposure. Evidence suggests that a similar scenario could be unfolding as was the case with the origins of the Covid outbreak in Wuhan's wet market.
Scientists fear the new virus could mutate, allowing a new Covid strain to infect humans, raising concerns of a potential global outbreak.
Our study shows how these viruses infect cells, and HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from spilling over into humans.
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