HKU5-CoV-2 :- The New Coronavirus Strain Found in China

Overview

1. HKU5-CoV-2 is a newly discovered bat coronavirus that belongs to the merbecovirus subgenus.
2. It includes the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
3. Direct transmission from bats: If people come into contact with infected bats or their bodily fluids (like saliva, urine, or feces), they could get infected.
4. Through an intermediate host: The virus might first infect another animal (like a mammal) before jumping to humans, similar to how some past coronaviruses spread.

How Viruses Spread from Bats to Humans

Bats are natural reservoirs for many viruses, some of which can spill over into humans and cause serious diseases. The transmission of viruses from bats to humans can happen in several ways, either through direct contact or via an intermediate host. Understanding these transmission pathways is crucial for preventing outbreaks of zoonotic diseases.

Direct Transmission from Bats to Humans

1. People who handle bats, such as wildlife researchers, bat hunters, or individuals involved in the wildlife trade, are at risk of exposure to bat-borne viruses.
2. Bites and scratches from infected bats can introduce viruses directly into the bloodstream.
3. Bats often shed viruses through their bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, and feces.
4. In places where bats roost, such as caves, trees, or buildings, humans may unknowingly come into contact with contaminated surfaces or inhale virus-laden particles.
5. Eating food or drinking water contaminated with bat saliva, urine, or feces can also lead to infection.
6. Some viruses carried by bats can become aerosolized, meaning they can spread through the air.
7. This can happen in bat caves, where large numbers of bats roost and release respiratory droplets, urine, or feces into the environment.
8. People exploring caves or working in areas with high bat populations might inhale viral particles, leading to infection.

Examples of Intermediate Hosts in Past Outbreaks

SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus):
Originated in bats and is believed to have infected civet cats before spreading to humans in 2002-2003.

MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus):
Likely jumped from bats to camels before infecting humans.

Nipah Virus:
Passed from bats to pigs in Malaysia, leading to an outbreak in humans.

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2):
The exact origin is still debated, but evidence suggests it may have involved an intermediate host, possibly pangolins.

How Do Intermediate Hosts Spread the Virus to Humans?

1. Consuming contaminated meat
2. Close contact with infected livestock or wild animals
3. Cross-species interaction in markets, like wet markets, where viruses can jump from one species to another and then to humans.

The Medical Bulletin