A new coronavirus feared to be able to spread to humans has been discovered by a China-linked scientist.
Researchers from Brazil and colleagues affiliated with the University of Hong Kong detected the new strain after swabbing the mouths and rectums of bats.
The novel strain is closely related to MERS — a disease that kills about 35 percent of the people it infects.
The makeup of the virus’ spike protein, which it uses to trigger an infection, means it can probably infect human cells, the researchers warned.
The virus is now being transported to China, along with six other viruses discovered during the expedition.
Tests will be carried out to find out whether they can infect human cells, despite concerns about such experiments being linked to the Covid pandemic.