🇨🇳CHINA'S LATEST VIRAL EXPORT COULD BE DEADLIER THAN COVID
Scientists say a new MERS-related virus out of China – HKU5-CoV-2 – is one tiny mutation away from jumping to humans.
It’s currently spreading among bats, was studied in the same country where Covid kicked off, and oh… https://t.co/JJEagcRP4p pic.twitter.com/QjMm6z0FO8
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 7, 2025
NEW COVID VARIANT 'NIMBUS' IS HERE – AND SO IS THE HYPE
Meet NB.1.8.1, or Nimbus – the latest Omicron spin-off now driving up cases in Asia and creeping into the UK.
Only 13 confirmed in England, yet headlines are already hinting at a "summer wave," but testing is down,… https://t.co/JpnC8y0N2l pic.twitter.com/jjDuFngSLZ
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 7, 2025
Scientists are sounding the alarm over a newly discovered virus in China that could pose a serious threat to human health. The HKU5-CoV-2 strain, closely related to MERS, has been identified in bats and is one small mutation away from being able to infect humans.
Researchers at Washington State University have conducted experiments showing that a minor change in the virus’s spike protein could allow it to bind to human ACE2 receptors, the same mechanism used by SARS-CoV-2. The virus has already demonstrated the ability to replicate inside human cells in lab conditions, raising concerns about its potential to spill over into human populations.
MERS, the virus to which HKU5-CoV-2 is closely related, has a fatality rate of up to 35%, making it significantly deadlier than COVID-19. While there is no evidence that HKU5-CoV-2 has infected humans yet, experts warn that its genetic proximity to MERS makes it a virus worth watching.
Meanwhile, a new COVID variant, NB.1.8.1—nicknamed Nimbus—is gaining traction in Asia and has begun appearing in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed only 13 cases so far, but officials are already hinting at a possible summer wave.
Despite the low case numbers, health authorities are pushing for renewed booster campaigns, citing concerns over the variant’s growth rate and transmissibility. However, early reports indicate that most cases remain mild, and there is no evidence that Nimbus causes more severe illness than previous strains.
SOURCES:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-virus-china-pandemic-hku5-b2765419.html