Latest news with #MiddleEastRespiratorySyndrome
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A potentially mutating bat virus has some scientists worried about the next pandemic
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Five years removed from the onset of Covid-19's global sweep, research into another subset of the coronavirus has scientists worried about another possible pandemic. This virus originated in bats, as most scientists believe Covid-19 did, and for now, the research has stressed that it is unable to do much damage to humans. But a potential viral mutation may change that. The pathogen in question is HKU5, which is naturally found in the Japanese house bat. HKU5 is a subgroup of the merbecovirus, which is itself a subcategory of the coronavirus that causes diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications examined a "scalable approach to assess novel merbecovirus cell entry across the entire merbecovirus subgenus," said the study's publication. This marks a ramping up of research into HKU5, and what type of threat viruses like it could pose. In the "past two decades, scientists have cataloged the genetic sequences of thousands of viruses in wild animals," but in "most cases, little is known about whether these viruses pose a threat to humans," said the University of Washington, which helped spearhead the study. While HKU5 in its current form is unlikely to infect humans, scientists say this could change if it were to mutate. Even though most merbecoviruses are "unlikely to have the capacity to infect humans, the HKU5 subgroup can," said Newsweek. The study found that HKU5 is able to "latch onto the ACE2 receptor on target cells." This is the same method that the coronavirus strain identified in 2019 uses to transmit Covid-19. At the moment, HKU5 viruses are "only able to adequately exploit the ACE2 receptor in bats — and are far less proficient at latching onto those found on human cells," said Newsweek. Still, scientists have already identified potential mutations that "might allow the viruses to bind to the ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans." HKU5 is similar to the type of merbecovirus that has caused a MERS outbreak since 2012, so there is legitimate cause for concern. HKU5 "may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans," Michael Letko, a virologist at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and author of the study, said in the university's press release. While there is "no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching," Letko said of these viruses. This is why the study was "offering insights into mutations and potential treatments," and this "research highlights the importance of monitoring these viruses closely," said KAYU-TV Spokane. Other researchers have downplayed the idea that HKU5 could ever make its way into humans. Chinese scientists first identified the strain in early 2025, and "there is no reason to believe it currently poses a concern to public health," a spokesperson for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told CNN at the time. Even the "researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic," Dr. Amira Roess, a global health professor at George Mason University, said to the outlet. Research "helps us understand what happens in the event that this does spill over and pose a risk. It's good to get ahead of that."
Egypt Independent
10-06-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
WHO warns of new ‘Nimbus' Coronavirus strain
A new variant of coronavirus, dubbed 'Nimbus,' has sparked widespread concern after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of rising rates of infections in certain regions of the world, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. In an official statement, the WHO confirmed that the 'Nimbus' variant is currently under monitoring, and does not pose an additional health risk compared to the currently circulating variants. The head of the Allergy and Immunology Department at the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA), Amjad al-Haddad, said that the new coronavirus variant lacks one mutation and is now a variant of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which causes severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, and fever, and has a higher mortality rate than COVID-19. 'The coronavirus variant is similar to the Nimbus variant, which portends a global pandemic. However, there is no accurate data yet. There is only a Nimbus-like mutation, and there is fear of a global mutation similar to the Nimbus pandemic. However, there is no detailed data on whether it has occurred or not, and whether these are just discovered variants,' he explained. The Professor of Health Economics and Epidemiology, Islam Anan, explained that the 'NB.1.8.1' variant, known as 'Nimbus,' is a subspecies of Omicron, and was first detected in January 2025, before the World Health Organization officially included it on the list of variants under surveillance on May 23. Anan stated that the new variant has so far been detected in 22 countries, representing approximately 10 percent of global samples, and this indicates a relative increase in its spread. However, he reassured that it has not yet reached the levels of widespread transmission seen with the original Delta or Omicron variants. Anan also addressed reports of a 97 percent increase in infections, explaining that this figure is likely the result of a local increase in some small countries or selected statistical samples, and does not reflect a general or absolute capacity for spread. He stressed that the available vaccines will remain effective, particularly in preventing severe symptoms, despite a moderate decline in immunization coverage.
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
New coronavirus only ‘one small step from spilling over into humans' and sparking widespread outbreak, say scientists
A NEW coronavirus may only be "a small step away from spilling over into humans", scientists have warned - sparking fears of another pandemic. Scientists believe the variant, called 1 Dr Michael Letko, a molecular virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the research into the concerning variant Credit: Ted S. Warren/College of Veterinary Medicine/WSU American scientists fear the virus - found in China - may be one small mutation away from also being able to infect humans, which could lead to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in , looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses. It includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. First noted in 2012, the virus typically spreads from infected camels to humans and causes severe respiratory disease, which can be fatal to 34 per cent of its victims. Read more on pandemics The research team, which included scientists at Washington State University (WSU), the California Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina, sought to understand how merbecoviruses infiltrate the cells of their hosts. While most bugs in the group seemed to pose little threat to people, scientists said one subgroup, HKU5, has concerning traits. Michael Letko, a virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, said: "Merbecoviruses – and HKU5 viruses in particular – really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. "What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans." Most read in Health Like other coronaviruses, merbecoviruses rely on a spike protein to bind to receptors and invade host cells. Dr Letko's team used virus-like particles containing the part of the spike protein responsible for binding to receptors and tested their ability to infect cells in their lab. World is not prepared for looming Disease X pandemic says Doctor Tedros Ghebreyesus While most merbecoviruses appeared unlikely to be able to infect humans, HKU5 viruses — which have been found across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East — were shown to use a host receptor known as ACE2, the same used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. But for now HKU5 viruses can only use the ACE2 gene in bats and can't deploy it on humans nearly as well. Examining HKU5 viruses found in Asia - where their host is the Japanese house bat - the researchers demonstrated some mutations in the spike protein that may allow the viruses to bind to ACE2 receptors in other species, including humans. 'These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Dr Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching.' Dr Letko said the study and its methods could be used for future research projects and to help the development of new vaccines and treatments. What is the new Covid variant confirmed in the UK? The new strain - called NB.1.8.1 - has been spotted in the parts of the UK, such as Ireland and Wales. It's also cropped up in Europe, the US and Australia, as well as Egypt, the Maldives, Thailand, China and Hong Kong. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued a warning over NB.1.8.1, designating it as a "variant under monitoring" due to its global spread and key mutations. 'Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,' the WHO said. But while it may not be particularly severe, it may infect people more easily than previous variants, with some evidence suggesting that the variant binds more tightly to human cells. The WHO stressed that, based on available evidence, the variant's risk to public health was "low at the global level". "Currently approved Covid-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease," it added. Symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and a blocked nose. Some people may also get gastrointestinal symptoms. It's not the first time concerns have been raised over HKU5. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists warned that This suggests a higher potential for zoonotic spillover - when a disease spreads from animal to human. If there is no 'intermediate middle animal', it becomes harder to predict and prevent spillover events through interactions such as wildlife trading or hunting. "There is the potential for this new virus to spillover to humans, like previous coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2," said Dr Gary R McLean, a research fellow at the Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study. But he noted that, so far, there is no "evidence" that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect people – the paper is based on tests in a laboratory, showing the bug's "potential". "Hopefully the Chinese authorities now have good surveillance systems in place and the laboratories work to rigid safety standards that minimise the risk of spillover occurring," he said. The WHO has previously listed MERS and Covid as two of several diseases - alongside the mysterious disease X - that could spark a pandemic, but for which there is no specific treatment or vaccine.
India.com
07-06-2025
- Health
- India.com
US scientists issue chilling warning, say new virus found in China one step away from spreading in..., HKU5-CoV-2 virus is found in...
Covid-19: Active cases surge to 3207, 29 deaths, 60% of cases in Kerala and Maharashtra COVID-19 has once again dominated the news headlines. A new virus has been detected in China following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Independent report, Scientists suggest that the variant, known as HKU5-CoV-2, is likely to affect a wider range of animals than the original COVID-19 virus, which led to millions of deaths worldwide. It is to be noted that the new variant may pose a greater risk of spreading between species. American researchers have raised concerns that HKU5-CoV-2, detected in China in February, might also have the ability to infect humans, potentially triggering a large-scale outbreak. A new study published in Nature Communications studied a lesser-known group of coronaviruses referred to as merbecoviruses, which includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV — the virus that causes the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Researchers from Washington State University studied how this new virus interacts with human cells. They discovered that a small alteration in the virus's spike protein would probably help it hook onto human ACE2 receptors located in the throat, mouth, and nose. HKU5-CoV-2 can infect and replicate within human cells in both the respiratory tract and the digestive tract. At present, the virus is found in bats, but with a small mutation, it could start spreading among people. This virus is similar to MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The World Health Organization states that around 35% of those infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) succumb to the disease. Since its emergence in 2012, approximately 27 countries have reported cases, resulting in 858 confirmed deaths. The infection is primarily transmitted from camels.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New coronavirus discovered in China ‘only small step' from infecting humans
A new coronavirus discovered in China is only a small step from mutating and causing another global pandemic, experts have warned. Scientists believe the variant, called HKU5-CoV-2, may infect a broader range of animals than Covid-19 – which caused millions of deaths – and may have more potential for jumping between species. US researchers fear that HKU5-CoV-2, found in China, in February, could also infect humans, leading to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in Nature Communications, looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses, which includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The team from Washington State University looked at how the new pathogen interacts with human cells. They found that a small change in the virus's spike protein could allow it to attach to human ACE2 cells in people's throats, mouths and noses. HKU5-CoV-2 can infect and replicate inside human cells in both the airways and gut. According to the World Health Organisation, about 35 per cent of people infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome die. Since 2012, some 27 countries have reported cases, leading to 858 known deaths due to the infection, which spread from camels. But when HKU5 was discovered in February, scientists warned against exaggerating the risks because it does not enter human cells as readily as Sars-CoV-2, which caused Covid-19. HKU5 was first detected in bats by scientists from the Chinese laboratory where some say Covid originated in 2019. Prof Michael Letko, a virologist who co-led the study, said: 'HKU5 viruses in particular really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. 'What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans.' When Covid-19 emerged it was widely blamed on markets in China where different breeds of wild animal are kept caged and often slaughtered close to other animals. Meat is sold at the open-air stalls. Critics said the markets were the perfect breeding ground for new zoonotic diseases – those that spread to humans – to emerge. The scientists, whose experiments studied how the new pathogen interacts with human cells, believe the virus would have to carry certain mutations if it were to infect humans. 'These viruses are closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Prof Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there and that makes them worth watching.'
