Overview

• Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology identified a new bat coronavirus, named HKU5-CoV-2, which can bind to the human ACE2 receptor to infect cells.
• The virus shares similarities with MERS, another coronavirus, but is distinct from SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• While HKU5-CoV-2 can infect human cells in lab settings, no cases have been reported in humans, and factors limiting its ability to spread among humans were identified.
• The discovery has renewed attention on the ongoing risk of zoonotic diseases and the importance of monitoring emerging viruses to prevent future pandemics.
• The CDC has stated there is currently no evidence to suggest the virus poses a public health concern but will continue to monitor developments.