A disturbing new virus has been discovered in Russia. This new virus is close to Covid-19 and can be transmitted to humans. What do we know about this new virus?
A new virus transmitted by bats
They are researchers from theuniversity of washington who identified this new virus. Named Khostas-2, it is transmitted by bats and he can transmit to humans. It was located in Russia. The results of this study are published in the journal PLoS Pathogens on September 22.
“Threat to global health”
The virus Khosta-2 is part of the sarbecovirus family “, a sub-coronavirus category from which SARS-CoV-2 originated. “Our research demonstrates once again that sarbecoviruses circulating in wildlife outside of Asia (…) are also a global health threat and the ongoing vaccination campaigns against SARS-CoV-2”. Statement by Michael Letko, virologist and co-author of the study.
Khosta-2 is resistant to the anti-Covid vaccine
Washington researchers have demonstrated that the Khosta-2 virus is resistant to antibody and to vaccinesanti covid. Michael Letko, call for develop universal vaccines which target all coronavirus subcategories including sarbecoviruses.
How dangerous is Khosta-2?
Also according to the results of the study, Kosta-2 is not not a “serious” virusin the sense that it would not cause serious disease in humans. Nevertheless the researchers remain cautious because there is a risk of Khosta-2 recombinationwith a second virus like SARS-CoV-2.
Source : PLoS PathogensSeptember 22.