NeoCov explained: should you really worry about the new coronavirus variant?

Russian State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector told news agency Artificial satellite That the experts know about the data. However, “at the moment, there is no discussion about the emergence of a new coronavirus that is set to spread actively in the human population. The risks identified by Chinese experts are probable and require further study,” the researchers said. .

Even the World Health Organization pointed out on Friday whether the virus found in the study would pose a risk to humans would require further study.

What have the scientists of Wuhan found?

Chinese scientists reported that NeoCov, a close relative of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), is found in a population of bats in South Africa and is currently spreading only among animals.

However, the virus in question has a latent ability to mutate and penetrate the human population. “Just one mutation is enough for the virus to be able to infiltrate human cells,” the scientists claim.

The scientists also pointed out, NeoCov infection cannot be cross-neutralized by antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV.

Is this enough reason to worry?

The focus of the study is based on a simple theory that if NeoCoV carries only a particular mutation it can use a similar route to the Sars-CoV-2 virus to infect humans.

It is important to understand here, that virologists explore several theories and test them using certain assumptions to represent a certain characteristic or the other. It is part of his job.

While these may be identifying insights to look for threats, it is important to remember that these are hypothetical. And the fact that this paper has yet to be reviewed makes it even more tentative because assumptions, methods, and conclusions can only be tested for robustness by other scientists, a Hindustan Times pointed to the report.

What is Neokov?

NeoCoV is not a new coronavirus, and it belongs to – along with Mers – a distinctly distinct genera of coronaviruses known as merbecoviruses (a type of subclassification). This is the type to which the other common colds HKU1 and OC43 are related. While recombination is not impossible, it is rarely observed.

But one of the most important factors to remember is that Chinese scientists themselves find that NeoCoV does not currently infect human ACE2, which means it cannot yet infect humans. Instead they stress the “latent potential” of such viruses in the future and the importance of surveillance and research on these viruses, Hindustan Times pointed to the report.