You may have heard reports of a cat in the UK having been infected with a new coronavirus strain responsible for thousands of cat deaths in Cyprus.
Estimates of the number of cat deaths caused by this new virus range from about 8,000 to more than 300,000. In other words, it could be a real cause for concern.
Following the events of the past few years, we're all too aware of the threat a new coronavirus strain can pose to humans - and it's no different for other species. This new cat coronavirus strain appears to be both deadly and highly infectious, and could quickly take hold. So are we on the brink of the feline equivalent of the COVID-19 pandemic? Before drawing parallels between the current outbreak in cats and the COVID-19 pandemic that surged through the human population, it's worth zooming in to understand what has been happening to the virus on a molecular level.
Based on one study (yet to be peer-reviewed), it seems that an existing cat coronavirus has recombined with a dog coronavirus to create a completely new coronavirus. (The SARS-CoV-2 virus behind the pandemic also emerged from a recombination event.) This recombination has led to a change on the cat coronavirus spike protein, the structure that enables it to enter host cells. This has made the virus not only more infectious, but also potentially able to cause more severe illness - a dangerous combination.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة New Year 2024 من BBC Science Focus.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة New Year 2024 من BBC Science Focus.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
CHANGE THE (BODY) CLOCKS
Why the end of British Summer Time can be a wake-up call for our circadian health
ARE OCTOPUSES SENTIENT?
If you've watched the Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher or been lucky enough to encounter an octopus in the wild, you'll know there's something special about them.
THE MEXICAN MOLE LIZARD
Imagine what would happen if an earthworm, a lizard, a snake and a mole went on a night out, had too much too much tequila and let their guard down.
Do we finally know how the Egyptian Pyramids were built?
A number of breakthrough studies are beginning to paint a picture of how these wonders of the world were built, but much of the story still remains a mystery...
ECLIPSES ON DEMAND
Inside an unassuming building, behind a damp car park in Antwerp, Belgium, scientists are teaching two spacecraft to be dance partners for a performance that will take place in front of the Sun.
How light's 'secret code' reveals the story of the cosmos
The starlight we can see tells us alot about the Universe, but it's the parts we can't see that contain the biggest revelations
An artificial heart inspired by plumbing
Mechanical circulation could revolutionise transplant design and reduce waiting lists
Major Stonehenge discovery deepens mystery around ancient monument
New findings suggest a key six-tonne stone came from over 450 miles north of the circle
THE UNEXPECTED RETURN OF PNEUMATIC TUBES
Once a pioneering technology that revolutionised deliveries, pneumatic tubes had all but disappeared. Now they're back and enjoying a resurgence
LIVING FOSSILS
FOR SOME CREATURES ALIVE TODAY TIME HAS ALMOST STOOD STILL. MEET THE 'LIVING FOSSILS' THAT GIVE US A GLIMPSE INTO LIFE IN THE DISTANT PAST