Scientist ‘Batwoman’ from Wuhan lab warns of more deadly variants emerging – world news

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A virologist in Wuhan, Shi Jingli, is one of the world’s best researchers in the field of coronaviruses, and he has discovered dozens of deadly SARS-like viruses in bat caves.

Chinese virologist Shi Chengli inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan (

Photo: AFP via Getty Images)

China dubbed ‘Batwoman’ has issued a stark warning that deadly Covid variants are coming.

Wuhan virologist Shi Jingli earned this title after working with bats that found subtropical regions in China for 16 years.

Zhengli is one of the world’s best coronavirus researchers and has discovered dozens of deadly SARS-like viruses in bat caves.

She studied samples from some of the first people who contracted the new and then mysterious respiratory disease in China in December and found it was similar to SARS.

Now, in a new interview, she warns that more deadly variants of Covid could sweep the world amid fears of a catastrophic new surge.

The P4 Laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan (

picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to People’s Daily, the scientist said: “As the number of infected cases has become so large, this has given the novel coronavirus more opportunities to mutate and select.

“New variables will continue to appear.”

It comes after allegations that a new Covid mutation could emerge which could kill more than a third of the people it infects.

Documents published by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said future strains of the new coronavirus could be as deadly as MERS.

In such a scenario, the virus could kill 35 percent of those infected with it.

The committee, which advises the government on its response to the pandemic, has warned that such surges are more likely to occur when the virus is widespread – as is currently the case in the UK.

There have been allegations that the virus came from a Wuhan laboratory (

picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Dr. Shi Jingli denied allegations that surfaced that the virus originated from a laboratory in Wuhan.

“My lab has not conducted or collaborated in gain-of-function experiments that increase the virulence of viruses,” she told the New York Times.

She said allegations that the lab boosted the virus and kept information about its spread secret were “speculation rooted in absolute mistrust” and said, “This is no longer a scientific question.”

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She added, “I’m sure I didn’t do anything wrong. So I have nothing to fear.”

In a text message she reportedly said, “I don’t know how the world got to this, and I am constantly pouring dirt on an innocent world.”

She also denied recent reports that three researchers from her institute had sought treatment in a hospital in November 2019 for flu-like symptoms before the first cases of Covid were reported.

The city was at the center of the initial outbreak in December 2019.

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