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<p>If a report doing the rounds on a database of pre-peer reviewed journal articles is to be believed, China has been experimenting with a new deadly Covid-like virus which is 100 per cent fatal to mice and could affect humans.</p>

<p>The paper published on bioRxiv website on January 3 claimed that doctors trained by the Chinese military made their version of the so-called "pangolin coronavirus" and gave it to a group of mice to see what would happen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Four mice inoculated with inactivated virus and four mock-infected mice were used as controls. Surprisingly, all the mice that were infected with the live virus succumbed to the infection within 7-8 days post-inoculation," the paper said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Deaths linked to brain infection</strong></h2>

<p>Experts found that the four mice given the virus lost weight within five days after being infected. On the seventh day, the mice started to become sluggish and their eyes went white.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-during-holidays-who-says-nearly-10000-died-due-to-cases-fueled-by-new-variant-679008">COVID-19 during holidays: WHO says nearly 10,000 died due to cases fueled by new variant</a></strong></p>

<p>"In the mice infected with live virus, the viral load in the lungs significantly decreased by day 6; both the viral RNA loads and viral titers in the brain samples were relatively low on day 3, but substantially increased by day 6. This finding suggested that severe brain infection during the later stages of infection may be the key cause of death in these mice," the paper further said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Researchers said that the cause of death may be linked to the occurrence of late brain infection.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch:&nbsp;EU repeats vaccination call after COVID-19 surge</strong></p>

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<p>The virus had not only spread to the mice's bodies but also reached critical organs such as the brain, eyes, and lungs.</p>

<p>"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that a SARS-CoV-2-related pangolin coronavirus can cause 100% mortality in hACE2 mice, suggesting a risk for GX_P2V to spill over into humans," the researchers added.</p>

<h2><strong>China warns of potential resurgence of Covid</strong></h2>

<p>Chinese authorities on Sunday warned of a <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-warns-of-potential-resurgence-of-covid-driven-by-jn1-subvariant-680083">potential resurgence of Covid </a></strong>this month driven by the JN.1 subvariant. The National Health Commission (NHC) highlighted the increasing presence of JN.1 and said that multiple respiratory diseases were likely to spread this winter and next spring.</p>

<p>"Influenza viruses are expected to remain the dominant pathogen," Wang Dayan, head of the Chinese National Influenza Center, told reporters.</p>

<p>He attributed the JN.1's rise to several factors including imported cases, lower influenza rates and declining population immunity.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


If a report doing the rounds on a database of pre-peer reviewed journal articles is to be believed, China has been experimenting with a new deadly Covid-like virus which is 100 per cent fatal to mice and could affect humans.

If a report doing the rounds on a database of pre-peer reviewed journal articles is to be believed, China has been experimenting with a new deadly Covid-like virus which is 100 per cent fatal to mice and could affect humans. The paper published on bioRxiv website on January 3 claimed that doctors trained by the Chinese military made their version of the so-called "pangolin coronavirus" and gave it to a group of mice to see what would happen. "Four mice inoculated with inactivated virus and four mock-infected mice were used as controls. Surprisingly, all the mice that were infected with the live virus succumbed to the infection within 7-8 days post-inoculation," the paper said. Deaths linked to brain infection Experts found that the four mice given the virus lost weight within five days after being infected. On the seventh day, the mice started to become sluggish and their eyes went white. Also read | COVID-19 during holidays: WHO says nearly 10,000 died due to cases fueled by new variant "In the mice infected with live virus, the viral load in the lungs significantly decreased by day 6; both the viral RNA loads and viral titers in the brain samples were relatively low on day 3, but substantially increased by day 6. This finding suggested that severe brain infection during the later stages of infection may be the key cause of death in these mice," the paper further said. Researchers said that the cause of death may be linked to the occurrence of late brain infection. Also watch: EU repeats vaccination call after COVID-19 surge × The virus had not only spread to the mice's bodies but also reached critical organs such as the brain, eyes, and lungs. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that a SARS-CoV-2-related pangolin coronavirus can cause 100% mortality in hACE2 mice, suggesting a risk for GX_P2V to spill over into humans," the researchers added. China warns of potential resurgence of Covid Chinese authorities on Sunday warned of a potential resurgence of Covid this month driven by the JN.1 subvariant. The National Health Commission (NHC) highlighted the increasing presence of JN.1 and said that multiple respiratory diseases were likely to spread this winter and next spring. "Influenza viruses are expected to remain the dominant pathogen," Wang Dayan, head of the Chinese National Influenza Center, told reporters. He attributed the JN.1's rise to several factors including imported cases, lower influenza rates and declining population immunity. (With inputs from agencies)

China experimenting with deadly Covid-like virus that could affect humans: Report

Despite a ban, the Chinese are still using pangolin to make traditional medicines. Pangolin scales were banned, partially due to several claims that they carry 'stains of coronavirus'. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: China is still using pangolin

<p>China has removed pangolins from its official list of traditional Chinese medicine treatments, in a move lauded by animal protection groups as a key step in stamping out trade in the scaly anteater, the world’s most trafficked mammal.</p>

<p>The scaly mammals have been pushed to the brink by illegal hunting for their scales and meat.</p>

<p>As many as&nbsp;200,000 pangolins are consumed each year&nbsp;in Asia for their scales and meat and more than 130 tonnes of scales, live and dead animals were seized in cross-border trafficking busts last year, a figure estimated to represent up to 400,000 animals, according to conservation group WildAid.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/novel-coronavirus-emerged-from-gene-shuffling-across-bats-pangolin-study-302005">Novel coronavirus emerged from gene shuffling across bats, pangolin: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>All eight species of pangolin are threatened with extinction. Trade in all eight species are protected under international law and three of the four native to Asia are included on the red list of the International Union for&nbsp;Conservation of Nature&nbsp;as critically endangered species, including the functionally extinct Chinese pangolin.</p>

<p>Conservation charities have welcomed the move towards greater protection. Paul Thomson of Save Pangolins said it was a breakthrough moment for pangolins.</p>

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<p>"China's move to phase out pangolin scales from traditional medicines could be the game changer we have been waiting for," he said.</p>

<p>"We hope China's next move will be to enforce the regulations and work to change consumer behaviour."</p>

<p>The news of the delisting from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacopoeia, comes after the country’s State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) raised the protected status of pangolins to the highest level last week, with immediate effect.</p>

<p>“I am very encouraged,” said Zhou Jinfeng, secretary general of the&nbsp;China&nbsp;Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), who has long pushed for better protection of pangolins and for stopping the use of their scales. ''Our continuous efforts for several years have not been in vain.''</p>

<p>Pangolins are covered with a layer of scales, which are designed to protect them against predators. The scales are highly coveted by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, while pangolin meat has been seen as a delicacy.</p>

<p>China banned the consumption of live wild animals for food in the wake of the outbreak, but there are certain exemptions, such as for medicine or fur.</p>

<p>Pangolins are in the spotlight as they have been found to carry strains of coronaviruses similar to COVID-19. Scientists are investigating whether trafficked pangolins might have played a role in the virus moving from animals to humans,&nbsp;but the evidence is unclear.</p>


China has removed pangolins from its official list of traditional Chinese medicine treatments, in a move lauded by animal protection groups as a key step in stamping out trade in the scaly anteater, the world’s most trafficked mammal.

China has removed pangolins from its official list of traditional Chinese medicine treatments, in a move lauded by animal protection groups as a key step in stamping out trade in the scaly anteater, the world’s most trafficked mammal. The scaly mammals have been pushed to the brink by illegal hunting for their scales and meat. As many as 200,000 pangolins are consumed each year in Asia for their scales and meat and more than 130 tonnes of scales, live and dead animals were seized in cross-border trafficking busts last year, a figure estimated to represent up to 400,000 animals, according to conservation group WildAid. Also read: Novel coronavirus emerged from gene shuffling across bats, pangolin: Study All eight species of pangolin are threatened with extinction. Trade in all eight species are protected under international law and three of the four native to Asia are included on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered species, including the functionally extinct Chinese pangolin. Conservation charities have welcomed the move towards greater protection. Paul Thomson of Save Pangolins said it was a breakthrough moment for pangolins. "China's move to phase out pangolin scales from traditional medicines could be the game changer we have been waiting for," he said. "We hope China's next move will be to enforce the regulations and work to change consumer behaviour." The news of the delisting from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacopoeia, comes after the country’s State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) raised the protected status of pangolins to the highest level last week, with immediate effect. “I am very encouraged,” said Zhou Jinfeng, secretary general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), who has long pushed for better protection of pangolins and for stopping the use of their scales. ''Our continuous efforts for several years have not been in vain.'' Pangolins are covered with a layer of scales, which are designed to protect them against predators. The scales are highly coveted by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, while pangolin meat has been seen as a delicacy. China banned the consumption of live wild animals for food in the wake of the outbreak, but there are certain exemptions, such as for medicine or fur. Pangolins are in the spotlight as they have been found to carry strains of coronaviruses similar to COVID-19. Scientists are investigating whether trafficked pangolins might have played a role in the virus moving from animals to humans, but the evidence is unclear.

China raises protection for pangolins by removing scales from medicine list

The novel coronavirus possibly emerged from a combination of genetic shuffling and evolutionary selection of genes among specific bat and pangolin viruses before it reached humans, a new research has claimed.

Pangolins found to carry Coronavirus strains

pangolin-coronavirus

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