_Breaking News: New HKU5 Coronavirus Strain Discovered in Bats 🦇🔬_ A new coronavirus strain, HKU5-CoV-2, has been discovered in bats by a Chinese research team. While it has the potential to transmit to humans, similar to Covid-19, _no human infections have been reported yet_ 🙅‍♂️. According to Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, "The discovered HKU5-CoV-2 strain is a genetic variation within the Merbecovirus genus and is not classified as a new or mutated virus." 🙏 Researchers found that the binding pattern between HKU5-CoV-2 and human enzyme ACE2 differs from other Merbecoviruses, leading to a hypothesis that it may pose a risk of animal-to-human transmission 🚨. However, Dr. Opas assured that the risk of direct bat-to-human transmission remains low to moderate, and the public need not be concerned at this time 🙏. Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has a robust international disease surveillance and prevention system in place to monitor emerging viruses 🌟. As a precautionary measure, Dr. Opas recommended preventive measures remain the same as for other respiratory viruses like influenza, Covid-19, or RSV: - _Avoid crowded places_ 🚫 - _Wear a mask when necessary_ 🎭 - _Practice regular hand hygiene_ 🚿 - _High-risk individuals can receive vaccines_ 💉 Stay safe and stay informed! 📊