The Chinese virologist known as Bat Woman, Shi Zhengli, is renowned for her extensive research on viruses carried by bats, especially SARS-like coronaviruses. She was part of the team that brought COVID-19 to the world and now, she is in the spotlight again after her team discovered a new coronavirus, named HKU5-CoV-2.

Studies show that the virus uses the same receptor cells to infect organisms as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Additional research initially suggested the new virus strain was highly likely to infect humans.

The U.S. CDC recently weighed in and, thankfully, said there is nothing to worry about.

The name HKU5-CoV-2 refers to a newly discovered strain of the bat coronavirus HKU5. Researchers caution that HKU5-CoV-2 is less powerful than SARS-CoV-2. Its ability to bind to human ACE2 receptors is much weaker, and the likelihood of widespread human transmission is currently considered low.

PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay