The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that it has newly discovered a coronavirus with the potential for human transmission from China, while emphasizing that the actual transmission risk is low and asking that its interpretation not be exaggerated.
Director Kim Eun-jin of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency noted during a regular briefing on the 24th, "The research announced this time is based on results analyzed using cells in the laboratory," and added, "There is not yet sufficient accurate evidence that it can infect humans."
Researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported on the 18th that they discovered a new coronavirus in bats, in the journal "Cell." The virus is named "HKU5-CoV-2" and has been shown to have the potential to infect humans, similar to the SARS coronavirus-2 (Sars-CoV-2), which causes the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, the research team's conclusion indicates that its capacity to penetrate human cells is weak, and thus the risk of infection is much lower than that of the Sars-CoV-2.
The researchers also explained, "The virus has not been detected in humans, but has been confirmed in the laboratory."
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency also explained that there is no need to exaggerate the risk of the newly discovered virus. Concerns have arisen following the publication of the study that a new infectious disease may emerge following COVID-19.
Director Kim stated, "Given the recent global expansion of cross-species infections of the virus, the research must continue," but added, "The binding capacity of the new virus to human receptors is considerably weaker than that of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) or COVID-19, so the possibility of it infecting humans should be regarded as low."