WHO says the potential threat to humans in NeoCov needs to be further studied

The World Health Organisation has said the potential danger to humans from NeoCov, a type of coronavirus that spreads among bats in South Africa, requires further study.

 

The WHO also said it was working closely with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to “monitor and respond to the threat of emerging zoonotic viruses.”

 

Chinese researchers had discovered the new kind of coronavirus, NeoCov, which is spreading among bats in South Africa. NeoCoV is a term loosely being used to refer to a virus variant linked to MERS-CoV.

 

According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 35% of reported patients with MERS-CoV infection have died.