Scientist told of the dangers of a virus discovered in China

There is no accurate information or published scientific articles on the study of a new coronavirus that virologists in China were able to find in bats. This was stated by Alexander Shestopalov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, professor-virologist, director of the Institute of Virology of the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, on Monday, February 24.

"Based on the fact that they discovered the virus and isolated it in bats, it is an ordinary monitoring work. It was not detected in a sick person. This is ordinary work in nature, in natural objects," the expert told Radio 1.

According to the specialist, bats can transmit the virus to a person through a bite, or through the nose, lungs, mouth - in an enclosed space.

"There are countries where they eat bats. And so they are undercooked. Such a way can be," the scientist added.

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Earlier, on February 21, Chinese researchers found that the bat coronavirus penetrates human cells in the same way as COVID-19, reports NSN.

It was noted that it uses the same cell surface protein to enter human cells as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, RT reports. According to the researchers, the virus does not penetrate human cells as easily as SARS-CoV-2.

Meanwhile, the HKU5-CoV-2 bat virus, like SARS-CoV-2, contains a feature that helps it enter cells through the ACE2 receptor protein on the surface of cells.

The media reported on February 21 that a new coronavirus, which has similarities to COVID-19, has been discovered in bats in China. It is specified that the virus is a new line of coronavirus HKU5, identified in Hong Kong in the Japanese bat, which is a species of bat.