Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China have identified a new coronavirus in bats that bears similarities to the virus responsible for Covid-19, potentially posing a new risk to human health, according to Bloomberg.
Although the virus has not yet been detected in humans, scientists found that it enters cells using the same receptor as the coronavirus that caused Covid-19. The researchers explained that the virus infects cells by binding to a protein present in humans and other mammals. It is closely related to the coronavirus family responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
The findings, published in Cell on Tuesday, have raised concerns about the virus’s potential to jump from animals to humans. MERS has been confirmed in approximately 2,600 people worldwide between 2012 and May 2024, with a fatality rate of around 36%. Most of these cases were reported in Saudi Arabia, according to the World Health Organization.
The Wuhan Virus Research Centre is well known for its studies on bat coronaviruses. One theory regarding the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that the virus may have leaked from the Wuhan lab, possibly through an infected worker.
Researchers at the institute have previously denied handling any viruses capable of triggering the pandemic. In 2023, the U.S. halted funding for the lab, which had received financial support through the U.S.-based EcoHealth Alliance, amid ongoing controversy.
Impact on Stock Market
The announcement immediately influenced the stock market, leading to notable gains for vaccine manufacturers. Moderna Inc. saw an increase of up to 6.6%, while Novavax Inc. rose by 7.8%. Meanwhile, American depositary receipts of BioNTech SE, Pfizer’s partner in developing the Covid vaccine, jumped 5.1%, and Pfizer experienced a 2.6% rise.
