HKU5-CoV-2 is a newly discovered bat coronavirus. It belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus responsible for MERS. It can bind to human ACE2 receptors, similar to the virus behind COVID-19. This suggests it has the potential for animal-to-human transmission. It does not pose an immediate pandemic threat, but more research is needed to determine if it poses a serious health threat. The virus can spread to humans in two possible ways: through contact with infected animals or through the air. It has no symptoms yet, but it might cause similar respiratory symptoms to MERS, such as coughing, sneezing, and chest pains. It is not known if it can cause respiratory problems in humans yet, as there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in humans. The discovery was made by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli, often referred to as \”Batwoman\” for her extensive research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
