Another highly infectious variant of coronavirus – HKU5-CoV-2 detected in China is capable of evading vaccine-induced immunity. Will this new variant trigger another pandemic? Read on to find out!
New COVID Variant: In 2019, the world saw the emergence of the deadliest virus outbreak SARS-CoV-2, which caused COVID-19. This deadly virus evaded the human immune system, targeting the respiratory tract and causing breathing difficulties, a drop in oxygen levels, and symptoms of pneumonia. Now, four years after the first case of COVID-19 was detected in China’s Wuhan, the world faces the looming threat of another global pandemic due to another lethal and highly transmissible coronavirus variant.
In a recent study, Chinese scientists have warned that a highly infectious HKU5-CoV-2 variant of COVID-19 has been detected in bats, capable of infecting humans and causing another pandemic. “This variant, linked to coronaviruses previously found in bats, exhibits characteristics that could potentially make it transmissible among humans,” scientists mentioned in the study.
What Is HKU5-CoV-2 Variant of COVID-19?
The newly detected COVID-19 variant — HKU5-CoV-2 belongs to a group of bat coronaviruses that have the potential to infect humans. Scientists have stated that this new variant has developed due to the continuous mutations happening in the spike protein of the parent COVID strain. that could enhance its ability to attach to human cells, increasing the likelihood of transmission. Although it is too early to classify HKU5-CoV-2 as a variant of concern (VOC), its genetic makeup has sparked serious discussions within the global health community.
What do you need to know about the newly detected COVID variant? How different is this new strain from the previous ones?
- HKU5-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19.
- As per the recently published data, HKU5-CoV-2 could jump from bats to humans in no time.
- There are also certain speculations that this new variant has the potential to evade vaccine-induced immunity.
However, researchers are yet to release proper data on the virus and its efficacy in infecting humans.
Will HKU5-CoV-2 Trigger Another Pandemic?
As experts warn that the HKU5-CoV-2 could evade the human immune system, the question that arises now is whether the new variant is capable of escalating a global pandemic. According to the study published, early data hints at partial vaccine evasion, but boosters and updated vaccines might improve protection. However, the risk of another pandemic is not clear yet.
“There is no cause of immediate panic due to the new variant,” researchers stated in the study.
Symptoms of HKU5-CoV-2 COVID Variant
HKU5-CoV-2 is a coronavirus belonging to the merbecovirus subgenus, which also includes the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Here are some of the common symptoms of COVID-19 that shouldn’t be ignored at this point:
- Persistent fever accompanied by chills and body pain
- Runny nose
- Persistent throat pain
- Breathing issues
- Loss of smell and taste
- Persistent headache
- Unexplained loss of appetite.
Could Vaccines Protect Against HKU5-CoV-2?
Vaccines remain the most effective tool in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. However, with HKU5-CoV-2’s potential immune evasion capabilities, scientists are assessing:
Efficacy of Current Vaccines: Early studies suggest existing vaccines may offer partial protection, especially against severe symptoms.
Need for Updated Vaccines: Vaccine manufacturers are prepared to update mRNA vaccines to match the new variant if necessary.
Booster Shots: Boosters could enhance immune responses and improve protection against HKU5-CoV-2.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the new virus called HKU5-CoV-2 was found by a team of virologists led by Shi Zhengli, the famed scientist known as “Batwoman” for her lifetime work in coronaviruses, especially at the Wuhan Institute, which has been at the centre of the theory suggesting COVID-19 came from a lab leak – something China has denied repeatedly.
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