Scientists in Wuhan have identified a new bat-borne coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, which carries the risk of animal-to-human transmission.

The chinese researchers have named the new virus HKU5-CoV-2, and claims that it has the ability to enter human cells via the same receptors as those used by the virus that infects cells with Covid-19.

A distant relative of Covid-19

The researchers found that the new virus shares many similarities with the Covid-19 virus: both viruses are able to enter human cells by binding to the human engiotensis converting enzyme receptors.

The researchers also deduce that the virus can bind to ACE2 receptors in various other species, who can later transmit the virus to humans.

The HKU5-CoV-2 strain was collected from pipistrelle bats swabbed across China's Guangdong, Anjui and Guangxi provinces. Researchers also believe the virus originated from the Japanese Pipistrelle bat from Hong Kong.

The virus could be classified under the merbecovirus subgenus, a virus also found in the Middle East respiratory syndrome.

Researchers note that this particular family of viruses is contagious nature, and there is a high chance of the virus being spilled over to humans, either through direct transmission or facilitated by intermediate hosts.

Batwoman scientist

The research was led by Chinese Virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as "Bat Woman" for her extensive research on bat coronaviruses.

The Wuhan Institute she is currently working at has been a point of contention during the Covid-19 breakout, with rumours speculating that the virus leaked from the very lab Shi was working at.

But Shi has hit back at such rumours, asserting that among the hundreds of bat viruses her lab had identified over the years, nothing came close to SAR-CoV-2.

Most scientists continue to support the theory that Covid-19 originated in bats and was transmitted to humans through an intermediate animal host, as reported by the BBC.

Not a public health concern

Shi noted that although the HKU5-CoV-2 virus is better adapted to human receptors compared with the original HKU5 but she also realised that the efficiency of the virus is significantly lower compared to the Covid-19 virus.

She also warned that the proliferation of the virus should not be exaggerated to avoid any worldwide panic. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also added that the strain is currently not a cause for concern.

The federal agency noted that there is no reason to believe the virus poses a threat to public health at the moment, given no infections have been detected in humans.