New coronavirus in China shows pandemic-like threat, scientists warn
Now, scientists from Washington State University, Caltech, and the University of North Carolina have turned their focus to a lesser-known subgroup called merbecoviruses.Among these, one subgroup in particular, called the HKU5 viruses, is raising red flags."HKU5 viruses haven't been studied much, but our research shows they have the machinery to infect cells. In fact, they might be only a single step away from being able to infect humans,' said Dr. Michael Letko, a virologist and lead author of the study.WHY IS THIS WORRYING?Like the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, these bat viruses use a spike protein to latch onto cells and infect them.
With a death rate of around 34%, MERS-CoV has already shown the world what these viruses are capable of. ()
advertisementThis study showed that HKU5 viruses can bind to a receptor called ACE2, the same one used by Covid-19, but currently only in bats, not humans.Still, that line is thinner than it sounds.With just a small genetic tweak, these viruses could potentially start binding to human cells. In fact, some versions have already been spotted infecting minks in China, a sign that they can jump across species.And if that mutation happens in just the right way, the next big spillover could be on the horizon."These viruses are very close relatives of MERS. That alone should make us pay attention," Letko said in a statement.To take the research a step further, scientists also used AI, specifically a tool called AlphaFold 3, to simulate how the spike protein would interact with ACE2 receptors.
This study showed that HKU5 viruses can bind to a receptor called ACE2, the same one used by Covid-19, but currently only in bats, not humans.()
This software predicted virus behaviour in minutes, a process that would usually take months of lab work. The AI's findings closely matched results from traditional lab experiments.advertisementChinese researchers had earlier shared findings of the new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2 in study led by virologist Shi Zhengli, who is also known as the 'batwoman".Zhengli found that in lab experiments, HKU5-CoV-2 infected human cells with high ACE2 levels in test tubes and in models of human intestines and airways.The researchers also identified monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs that target the bat virus.WHY DOES THIS STUDY MATTER?The study's findings matter because, as we've learned from Covid-19, viruses don't need a passport to go global. If we ignore the warning signs, we risk another pandemic blindsiding us.Keeping an eye on viruses like HKU5 gives scientists a head start in developing vaccines, treatments, and public health strategies, before it's too late.As Dr. Letko put it, there's no need to panic, but there is every reason to prepare.
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The Hindu
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- The Hindu
Delhi's stray dog crisis demands a One Health response
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One Health approach Viewed through the One Health lens, Delhi's challenge is not a choice between humans or dogs, but how the city manages the interconnected systems that affect both. Waste management shapes the conditions in which rabies spreads, dog vaccination protects both animals and humans, and post-bite treatment saves lives. None of these measures can succeed in isolation, and climate change intensifies the stakes. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall alter waste decomposition, influence rodent populations, and affect dog behaviour, making fragile urban ecosystems even more unstable. Treating dog removal as a technical fix ignores the reality that the most serious health risks in the coming decades will emerge where human, animal, and environmental health intersect, and a One Health approach emerges as the pathway to tackle them effectively. There is also mounting evidence from India itself that large scale vaccinations can rapidly lower exposure even before sterilisation programmes achieve scale. Goa became India's first state to eliminate human dog-mediated rabies through a programme that combined mass dog vaccination, public education, and surveillance. Vaccinating each dog in India costs a mean of U.S. $3.45, slightly above the global average of U.S. $2.18 due to labour-intensive methods like hand-catching strays - yet, over 10 years, the programme prevented 121 human deaths and 3,427 DALYs (disability-adjusted life years, which measure years of healthy life lost due to illness or premature death) at just U.S. $567 per DALY, making it a highly cost-effective public health intervention. 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Delhi's reliance on mass removals is short-sighted, and does not offer solutions to tackle the root cause, which is rabies rather than dogs. It offers only temporary relief, undermines animal welfare, and risks disrupting the urban ecosystem. Evidence from Goa, Jaipur, and Tamil Nadu shows that targeted canine vaccination, combined with sterilisation, public education, and effective waste management - is both feasible and highly cost-effective. By embracing a One Health strategy, Delhi can protect human lives, uphold animal health and welfare, while restoring ecological balance - providing a sustainable path to eliminate rabies. (Sharon Sarah Thawaney works with the Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata. sharonthawaney04@
Time of India
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- Time of India
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Time of India
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- Time of India
US: RFK Jr. risking 'nation's health' with misinformation
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