The new COVID-19 has mutated gene similar to HIV and is 1,000 times more potent than the SARS-CoV.

COVID-19 has a slightly different gene from SARS-CoV but we cannot fully confirm that its similar to that of HIV yet.

COVID-19 has a slightly different gene from SARS-CoV but we cannot fully confirm that its similar to that of HIV yet.The combined findings of the study published on Chinaxiv.org(a platform used by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to release scientific research papers) and another study revealed that because of the HIV-like mutations, a new virus called COVID-19 can bind with human cells which could be as much as 1,000 times more potent than the initial SARS virus of 2003.

Thailand Medical News quoted Professor Ruan Jishou, a prominent virologist and genomicist as saying in a phone interview that this finding suggests that 2019-nCoV coronavirus may be significantly different from the SARS coronavirus in the infection pathway and has the added potency of using the packing mechanisms of other viruses such as HIV. He added that the binding method is more than 1,000 times efficient.

Another research conducted by Professor Li Hua, another prominent virologist and genetic specialist, and his team from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, also confirmed Professor Ruan’s findings. But these researches are yet to peer-reviewed and may undergo changes.

Therefore we can say that COVID-19 has a different gene from SARS-CoV but we cannot fully confirm that its similar to that of HIV.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.