Latest news with #Pipistrellus
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What Doctors Say About the New Bat Coronavirus Discovered in China
A new coronavirus has just been detected in bats. Lab tests show the virus can infect human cells, but experts say not to be concerned. Here's everything we know so far. Given everything that happened with the COVID-19 pandemic, it's understandable to feel nervous when you hear about a new virus. Now, reports are swirling about a new coronavirus detected in bats called HKU5-CoV-2, and people have questions. The information comes courtesy of a scientific article published in the journal Cell. The study, which was done by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, details a newly-detected type of coronavirus in bats that can get into human cells in the same way as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The researchers wrote in the conclusion that the findings 'underscore' the potential risk of this virus jumping from animals to humans. Meet the experts: William Schaffner, M.D., is an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security The CDC tells Prevention, 'CDC is aware of a publication about a new bat coronavirus, but there is no reason to believe it currently poses a concern to public health. The publication referenced demonstrates that the bat virus can use a human protein to enter cells in the laboratory, but they have not detected infections in humans. CDC will continue to monitor viral disease activity and provide important updates to the public.' Infectious disease doctors also stress that the study doesn't mean another pandemic is looming. Still, it's normal to be concerned. Here's what we know about the bat coronavirus HKU5-CoV-2. HKU5-CoV-2 is a form of coronavirus that was just detected in bats. The recent study picked up the virus after analyzing anal swabs taken from a certain type of bat from the genus Pipistrellus. This coronavirus is in the same family as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a severe and deadly respiratory virus. The researchers discovered in a lab experiment that, just like SARS-CoV-2, HKU5-CoV-2 can get into human cells through the ACE2 receptor protein. But the scientists also found that common anti-viral medications that fight SARS-CoV-2 also seem to work against the bat coronavirus. Technically, yes. But the researchers point out in the study that HKU5-CoV-2 doesn't seem to infect human cells as well as SARS-CoV-2. This bat coronavirus also hasn't been detected in humans—lab tests just found it has the potential to infect people. That doesn't mean that people will get HKU5-CoV-2, though. 'There are countless numbers of different coronavirus in different species of animals, particularly bats, that will never spill into humans,' says Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, agrees. 'Just because this virus is out there in bats does not mean that it is inevitable that it will become a human virus,' he says. 'This is just another bat virus that's been found.' There are a few different ways people can get viruses from bats, Dr. Schaffner says. Those include being bitten by a bat, coming into contact with bat droppings, or eating bats. 'Sometimes the virus goes from the bats to another animal and then to humans,' Dr. Schaffner says. 'MERS went from bats to camels to humans. COVID went from bats to pangolins [a type of anteater] to humans.' Infectious disease doctors say there's no need to panic. 'With viruses, the more you look, the more you'll find,' Dr. Schaffner says. 'There are many viruses out there in the animal population that have not yet been identified.' He says it's likely that HKU5-CoV-2 has been swirling in bats for a while, but was only just now detected. 'It hasn't jumped species yet,' Dr. Schaffner says. 'We've just now identified it, but it's probably been there for years and years.' Dr. Adalja also says that there's 'no specific concern' about HKU5-CoV-2 causing a pandemic. 'The coronavirus family of viruses is one that is obviously pandemic-capable, but there is no imminent pandemic threat of HKU-5 as it is not infecting humans,' he says. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Egypt Independent
27-02-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
All you need to know about new bat Coronavirus found in China
Scientists in China have discovered a new type of coronavirus in bats that can infect human cells, but experts say it does not pose a public health threat—at the moment. Scientists reported to the journal 'Cell' that they found the virus, named HKU5-CoV-2 in samples taken from a Pipistrellus bat. As with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it uses ACE2 receptors to enter human cells. However, there is no evidence that the virus has currently infected humans, and US government health experts say it does not spread as easily as the COVID-19 virus. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told CNN: 'There is no reason to believe that it currently poses a public health concern,' adding that 'it will continue to monitor viral disease activity and provide important updates to the public.' Scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were able to identify the virus while studying bats. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), according to the health website HealthDay News. Laboratory tests confirmed that HKU5-CoV-2 can infect human cells, but not as efficiently as the virus that causes COVID-19. No cause for concern A professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University's College of Public Health, Amira Roess, told CNN that there is no cause for concern. 'The researchers themselves indicate that this should not cause panic,' she assured. Laboratory tests also showed that existing antiviral drugs used against COVID work against HKU5-CoV-2. A professor at the University of Washington Medical Center, Alex Greninger, said that the discovery was not surprising. He added, 'It's likely that there are a large number of coronaviruses circulating in bats that can enter human cells.' Experts stressed that HKU5-CoV-2 should not divert attention from more pressing health threats, such as the avian flu now spreading among birds, cows, and cats. Greninger said, 'They're here every winter, so frankly, we should be talking about those and not HKU5.' This view was echoed by an assistant professor of molecular biology at Colorado College, Phoebe Lostroh, author of 'Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses.' She told CNN, 'We should be more concerned about issues like bird flu and its impact on cows, cats, and all kinds of other mammals than a new coronavirus isolated from a group of bats in China that reminds us of SARS-CoV-2 but isn't really a breakthrough discovery.' Despite the lack of an immediate threat, Roess noted that the study highlights the importance of global health surveillance. She added, 'It's sad to think about how we isolate ourselves from the global public health world.' The study on the new coronavirus in China also serves as a reminder to avoid close contact with wildlife, especially birds and bats. 'There are other things that bats carry that could be a big problem for people,' Roess said. She concluded, 'So respect these wild animals, and don't interact with them too much, because you could end up hurting them and hurting yourself.' Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
CNN
26-02-2025
- Health
- CNN
Scientists have identified a new coronavirus in bats, but it's not a public health threat
Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have discovered a new lineage of a coronavirus in bats that can enter human cells in a similar fashion as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a recently published study. But there are no reported infections in humans, and experts say it's not currently a threat to public health. Like SARS-CoV-2, HKU5-CoV-2 can enter cells via the human ACE2 receptor protein on cell surfaces. The newly identified coronavirus is a part of the same family as the virus that causes deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. According to the study, published last week in the journal Cell, scientists found the coronavirus in anal swab samples taken from a bat of the genus Pipistrellus. A lab experiment showed that the virus could infect human cells. Pointing to the fact that researchers have not detected any infections in humans, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an email to CNN that it was aware of the publication 'but there is no reason to believe it currently poses a concern to public health.' The CDC added that it 'will continue to monitor viral disease activity and provide important updates to the public.' Scientists say the newly identified coronavirus doesn't infect cells as efficiently as the virus that causes Covid-19. But with the work originating at the Wuhan, China, lab that's been the target of questions about where Covid-19 originated, it quickly captured attention. Although the new research contains some pandemic-associated trigger words, Dr. Amira Roess said there is no reason for concern. 'Even the researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic,' said Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University's College of Public Health who has worked with international colleagues to better understand the MERS coronavirus. Research like this study is important, Roess said. 'It 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,' she said. 'The more we know about these viruses, the better.' In experiments, antiviral medications that worked against SARS-CoV-2 also seemed to be active against the newly named coronavirus. Dr. Alex Greninger, a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington Medical Center, who developed tests to detect Covid-19 early in the pandemic, described nature as 'the best bioterrorist' but also agreed that people shouldn't be alarmed about the newly identified coronavirus – or even surprised that scientists found it in bats. 'There are probably a lot of coronaviruses circulating in bats that can enter human cells,' Greninger said. If people want to worry, Greninger said, they can worry about the other coronaviruses that are endemic and making people sick right now. The viruses 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1 cause the common cold. They give most people only minor respiratory issues, but such infections can also develop into pneumonia or croup. 'They're here every winter, so frankly, we should be talking about those rather than HKU5,' Greninger said. Dr. Phoebe Lostroh, author of 'Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses,' said headlines about how this newly named coronavirus could cause the next pandemic are overblown and 'not helpful,' particularly when there is already fear in the world about the US withdrawing from global health efforts. 'I think we ought to be a lot more worried about problems like avian flu and its impact on cows and kitties and all sorts of other mammals than this new coronavirus that was isolated from a population of bats in China that reminds us of SARS-CoV-2 but is not really a breakthrough discovery,' said Lostroh, an associate professor of molecular biology at Colorado College. Roess said the study highlights why scientists collaborate globally to monitor and understand viruses that have the potential to hurt human health. 'It's sad to think about how we're separating ourselves from the global public health world,' she said. Under President Donald Trump, the US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization and has ceased support of health programs through USAID. 'This highlights to me why it's so important to do global work and to do these global collaborations over the long haul.' The study should also serve as a reminder to the public to be careful around wildlife like bats, Roess said. 'There's other things that bats carry that can be very problematic for people,' she said. 'So respect these wild animals, don't interact with them too much, because you could end up hurting them and yourself.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists have identified a new coronavirus in bats, but it's not a public health threat
Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have discovered a new lineage of a coronavirus in bats that can enter human cells in a similar fashion as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a recently published study. But there are no reported infections in humans, and experts say it's not currently a threat to public health. Like SARS-CoV-2, HKU5-CoV-2 can enter cells via the human ACE2 receptor protein on cell surfaces. The newly identified coronavirus is a part of the same family as the virus that causes deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. According to the study, published last week in the journal Cell, scientists found the coronavirus in anal swab samples taken from a bat of the genus Pipistrellus. A lab experiment showed that the virus could infect human cells. Pointing to the fact that researchers have not detected any infections in humans, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an email to CNN that it was aware of the publication 'but there is no reason to believe it currently poses a concern to public health.' The CDC added that it 'will continue to monitor viral disease activity and provide important updates to the public.' Scientists say the newly identified coronavirus doesn't infect cells as efficiently as the virus that causes Covid-19. But with the work originating at the Wuhan, China, lab that's been the target of questions about where Covid-19 originated, it quickly captured attention. Although the new research contains some pandemic-associated trigger words, Dr. Amira Roess said there is no reason for concern. 'Even the researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic,' said Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University's College of Public Health who has worked with international colleagues to better understand the MERS coronavirus. Research like this study is important, Roess said. 'It 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,' she said. 'The more we know about these viruses, the better.' In experiments, antiviral medications that worked against SARS-CoV-2 also seemed to be active against the newly named coronavirus. Dr. Alex Greninger, a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington Medical Center, who developed tests to detect Covid-19 early in the pandemic, described nature as 'the best bioterrorist' but also agreed that people shouldn't be alarmed about the newly identified coronavirus – or even surprised that scientists found it in bats. 'There are probably a lot of coronaviruses circulating in bats that can enter human cells,' Greninger said. If people want to worry, Greninger said, they can worry about the other coronaviruses that are endemic and making people sick right now. The viruses 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1 cause the common cold. They give most people only minor respiratory issues, but such infections can also develop into pneumonia or croup. 'They're here every winter, so frankly, we should be talking about those rather than HKU5,' Greninger said. Dr. Phoebe Lostroh, author of 'Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses,' said headlines about how this newly named coronavirus could cause the next pandemic are overblown and 'not helpful,' particularly when there is already fear in the world about the US withdrawing from global health efforts. 'I think we ought to be a lot more worried about problems like avian flu and its impact on cows and kitties and all sorts of other mammals than this new coronavirus that was isolated from a population of bats in China that reminds us of SARS-CoV-2 but is not really a breakthrough discovery,' said Lostroh, an associate professor of molecular biology at Colorado College. Roess said the study highlights why scientists collaborate globally to monitor and understand viruses that have the potential to hurt human health. 'It's sad to think about how we're separating ourselves from the global public health world,' she said. Under President Donald Trump, the US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization and has ceased support of health programs through USAID. 'This highlights to me why it's so important to do global work and to do these global collaborations over the long haul.' The study should also serve as a reminder to the public to be careful around wildlife like bats, Roess said. 'There's other things that bats carry that can be very problematic for people,' she said. 'So respect these wild animals, don't interact with them too much, because you could end up hurting them and yourself.'
CNN
25-02-2025
- Health
- CNN
Scientists have identified a new coronavirus in bats, but it's not a public health threat
Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have discovered a new lineage of a coronavirus in bats that can enter human cells in a similar fashion as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a recently published study. But there are no reported infections in humans, and experts say it's not currently a threat to public health. Like SARS-CoV-2, HKU5-CoV-2 can enter cells via the human ACE2 receptor protein on cell surfaces. The newly identified coronavirus is a part of the same family as the virus that causes deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. According to the study, published last week in the journal Cell, scientists found the coronavirus in anal swab samples taken from a bat of the genus Pipistrellus. A lab experiment showed that the virus could infect human cells. Pointing to the fact that researchers have not detected any infections in humans, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an email to CNN that it was aware of the publication 'but there is no reason to believe it currently poses a concern to public health.' The CDC added that it 'will continue to monitor viral disease activity and provide important updates to the public.' Scientists say the newly identified coronavirus doesn't infect cells as efficiently as the virus that causes Covid-19. But with the work originating at the Wuhan, China, lab that's been the target of questions about where Covid-19 originated, it quickly captured attention. Although the new research contains some pandemic-associated trigger words, Dr. Amira Roess said there is no reason for concern. 'Even the researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic,' said Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University's College of Public Health who has worked with international colleagues to better understand the MERS coronavirus. Research like this study is important, Roess said. 'It 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,' she said. 'The more we know about these viruses, the better.' In experiments, antiviral medications that worked against SARS-CoV-2 also seemed to be active against the newly named coronavirus. Dr. Alex Greninger, a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington Medical Center, who developed tests to detect Covid-19 early in the pandemic, described nature as 'the best bioterrorist' but also agreed that people shouldn't be alarmed about the newly identified coronavirus – or even surprised that scientists found it in bats. 'There are probably a lot of coronaviruses circulating in bats that can enter human cells,' Greninger said. If people want to worry, Greninger said, they can worry about the other coronaviruses that are endemic and making people sick right now. The viruses 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1 cause the common cold. They give most people only minor respiratory issues, but such infections can also develop into pneumonia or croup. 'They're here every winter, so frankly, we should be talking about those rather than HKU5,' Greninger said. Dr. Phoebe Lostroh, author of 'Molecular and Cellular Biology of Viruses,' said headlines about how this newly named coronavirus could cause the next pandemic are overblown and 'not helpful,' particularly when there is already fear in the world about the US withdrawing from global health efforts. 'I think we ought to be a lot more worried about problems like avian flu and its impact on cows and kitties and all sorts of other mammals than this new coronavirus that was isolated from a population of bats in China that reminds us of SARS-CoV-2 but is not really a breakthrough discovery,' said Lostroh, an associate professor of molecular biology at Colorado College. Roess said the study highlights why scientists collaborate globally to monitor and understand viruses that have the potential to hurt human health. 'It's sad to think about how we're separating ourselves from the global public health world,' she said. Under President Donald Trump, the US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization and has ceased support of health programs through USAID. 'This highlights to me why it's so important to do global work and to do these global collaborations over the long haul.' The study should also serve as a reminder to the public to be careful around wildlife like bats, Roess said. 'There's other things that bats carry that can be very problematic for people,' she said. 'So respect these wild animals, don't interact with them too much, because you could end up hurting them and yourself.'
