A new coronavirus strain with the potential to infect humans has been uncovered by scientists linked to China, raising significant pandemic fears once again. A collaborative research team from Brazil and the University of Hong Kong made this groundbreaking discovery after collecting swabs from the mouths and rectums of various bat species.

This newly identified strain shares close genetic links with MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), a lethal virus that claims the lives of nearly 35 percent of those it infects. Researchers expressed concern that the structure of this virus's spike protein might enable it to bind with human cells, indicating a possible risk of transmission to humans.

Currently, the virus is being transported to laboratories in China for further analysis, alongside six other viruses found during the same research expedition. These tests will aim to assess their ability to infect human cells, igniting concerns given the links of previous virus research to the emergence of COVID-19.

Lead researcher Dr. Bruna Silverio from the University of Sao Paulo stated, "At this moment, we cannot conclusively say it can infect humans. However, preliminary findings show parts of the spike protein that may interact with receptors similar to those used by MERS-CoV." The team plans to conduct thorough experiments in Hong Kong later this year.

MERS is known as a contagious respiratory illness that can be transmitted from animals to humans and, in some cases, from human to human. It manifests symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and vomiting, and can lead to severe health complications. To date, only two reported cases of MERS have been confirmed in the United States, both linked to travel in the Middle East, with no vaccine available against the virus.

As of now, MERS has accounted for 2,613 reported cases globally, resulting in 943 deaths. The recent study, published in the Journal of Medical Virology, involved the collection of 423 oral and rectal swabs from 15 species of bats, confirming that the seven strains of coronavirus found are genetically distinct from any known pathogens.

The viruses were detected in both the velvety free-tailed bat and the great fruit-eating bat, species that inhabit regions across South America and Mexico. Virologist Dr. Ricardo Duraes-Carvalho, also part of the research team, emphasized the importance of continuous epidemiological surveillance of bats, which serve as critical reservoirs for viral diseases. This monitoring is essential to identify circulating viruses and assess the risks of transmission to other animals and humans.

Adding to the alarm, just three weeks earlier, scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China reported discovering another coronavirus strain within bats that is believed to pose a risk to humans. Dubbed HKU5-CoV-2, this strain bears a striking resemblance to the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying fears that a similar global health crisis could be on the horizon.

As researchers continue to investigate these emerging strains, the world watches closely, hoping to prevent a repeat of past pandemics.