The virus is related to MERSCov, which The World Health Organization describes as 'a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted between animals and people'.
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News of a virus similar to "covid variants" named “NeoCoV” has come to light this week.
A Chinese study found that a virus in South Africa is just one mutation away from making the transition to humans.
There are concerns it could spread between individuals, in the same way that Covid-19 can.
The study by Biorxiv says they “demonstrate the first case of ACE2 usage in MERS-related viruses, shedding light on a potential bio-safety threat of the human emergence of an ACE2 using “MERS-CoV-2” with both high fatality and transmission rate.”
The study is yet to be peer reviewed.
The virus is related to MERSCov, which The World Health Organization describes as “a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted between animals and people, and it is contractable through direct or indirect contact with infected animals.
“MERS-CoV has been identified in dromedaries in several countries in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.”
Similarly to Covid-19, they state “The origins of the virus are not fully understood but according to the analysis of different virus genomes it is believed that it may have originated in bats and later transmitted to camels at some point in the distant past.”
Symptoms of the virus also draw striking similarities to Covid, listed as a “fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding, but not always present.”
"We need to see more data confirming human infection and associated severity before getting anxious." virologist Professor Lawrence Young told The Independent.
