A Chinese research team has identified a new bat coronavirus capable of infecting humans using the same receptor as Covid-19. This discovery, reported by Reuters on February 22, highlights the ongoing risk of zoonotic diseases and the need for continuous monitoring to prevent future outbreaks.

The novel virus belongs to a distinct lineage of the HKU5 coronavirus, which was originally discovered in Japanese Pipistrelle bats in Hong Kong. Researchers at the Guangzhou Laboratory led the study, with Shi Zhengli, a prominent virologist known as “batwoman” for her extensive research on bat coronaviruses, spearheading the project. Shi, affiliated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has long been at the center of debates surrounding the origins of Covid-19, though she has consistently denied allegations that the institute played any role in the initial outbreak.

The discovery of a coronavirus capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor-the same mechanism used by SARS-CoV-2-raises concerns about the potential for another pandemic. The researchers emphasized the importance of closely monitoring this pathogen to assess its transmissibility and potential health impacts.

“The findings underscore the critical need to surveil bat populations and understand........

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