Shi Zhengli, a prominent Chinese virologist famously known as "batwoman" owing to her extensive research on viruses originating from animals, has issued an alarming warning. In a recent paper co-authored with colleagues, Shi stressed that it is "highly likely" that another coronavirus will emerge in the future.

This cautionary note is based on her expertise, as coronaviruses have previously caused major outbreaks like the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reported the South China Morning Post.

Shi and her team from the Wuhan Institute of Virology conducted an evaluation of 40 different coronavirus species to assess their potential for spillover into human populations.

Alarming findings emerged, with half of these species categorised as "highly risky." Among these, six had already caused diseases in humans, while evidence suggested that three had infected other animal species.

The research concludes that "future disease emergence" is nearly certain, with a high likelihood of another coronavirus-related outbreak.

This prediction is grounded in an analysis of various viral characteristics, including population dynamics, genetic diversity, host species, and the history of zoonotic transmission (diseases transmissible from animals to humans).&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;No vaccine for new Covid variant 'Pirola'

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<h2>Controversy surrounding Shi's work</h2>

Shi Zhengli's work has been shrouded in controversy, with suspicions, particularly among some US politicians, that COVID-19 originated from a potential lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The lab-leak theory remains contentious, with many scientists favoring the hypothesis that the virus likely originated in animals, possibly bats, before transmitting to humans through an intermediary host.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-reveals-organ-damage-in-long-covid-patients-who-required-hospitalisation-638826">Study reveals organ damage in long covid patients who required hospitalisation</a>

Declassified US intelligence documents released in June noted that while there was no conclusive evidence supporting the lab leak theory, it could not be definitively ruled out.

Separately, an anonymous scientist from China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted a perceptible shift in China's handling of COVID-19, suggesting that Chinese authorities may be downplaying the virus's significance. Some cities have ceased releasing infection data, signalling a shift in public health priorities.

&nbsp;

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Shi Zhengli, a prominent Chinese virologist famously known as "batwoman" owing to her extensive research on viruses originating from animals, has issued an alarming warning.

Shi Zhengli, a prominent Chinese virologist famously known as "batwoman" owing to her extensive research on viruses originating from animals, has issued an alarming warning. In a recent paper co-authored with colleagues, Shi stressed that it is "highly likely" that another coronavirus will emerge in the future. This cautionary note is based on her expertise, as coronaviruses have previously caused major outbreaks like the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reported the South China Morning Post. Shi and her team from the Wuhan Institute of Virology conducted an evaluation of 40 different coronavirus species to assess their potential for spillover into human populations. Alarming findings emerged, with half of these species categorised as "highly risky." Among these, six had already caused diseases in humans, while evidence suggested that three had infected other animal species. The research concludes that "future disease emergence" is nearly certain, with a high likelihood of another coronavirus-related outbreak. This prediction is grounded in an analysis of various viral characteristics, including population dynamics, genetic diversity, host species, and the history of zoonotic transmission (diseases transmissible from animals to humans). Also watch | No vaccine for new Covid variant 'Pirola' Controversy surrounding Shi's work Shi Zhengli's work has been shrouded in controversy, with suspicions, particularly among some US politicians, that COVID-19 originated from a potential lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The lab-leak theory remains contentious, with many scientists favoring the hypothesis that the virus likely originated in animals, possibly bats, before transmitting to humans through an intermediary host. Also read | Study reveals organ damage in long covid patients who required hospitalisation Declassified US intelligence documents released in June noted that while there was no conclusive evidence supporting the lab leak theory, it could not be definitively ruled out. Separately, an anonymous scientist from China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted a perceptible shift in China's handling of COVID-19, suggesting that Chinese authorities may be downplaying the virus's significance. Some cities have ceased releasing infection data, signalling a shift in public health priorities. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Another coronavirus on the way? This is what China's top virologist 'batwoman' thinks

China's virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-bat-woman-at-the-center-of-a-pandemic-storm-speaks-out-391613">“bat woman”</a>, who heads the Wuhan lab has predicted that "new variants will continue to emerge" even as the world battles the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.

Zhengli said the virus had "become too big" which allowed it to "mutate and select", while urging people to get vaccinated.

The top&nbsp;Chinese virologist's concern comes as Wuhan authorities last week tested all 11 million residents after an outbreak was reported among migrant workers.

Watch:

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"We shouldn't panic, but we need to prepare to co-exist with the virus in the long term," China's controversial bat woman said.

Chinese authorities mobilised 28,000 health workers in thousands of testing sites across the city. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-tests-all-residents-as-chinas-virus-cases-reach-six-month-high-404132">Wuhan</a> which first reported the virus in 2019 had reported zero cases for several months, however, the highly transferrable Delta variant has spread rapidly across the country in recent weeks with Nanjing becoming the epicentre of the virus.

Health officials in China have put several cities on<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-expands-covid-lockdown-amid-surge-in-new-virus-cases-404379"> lockdown </a>and undertaken mass testing amid a surge in virus cases.&nbsp;

BioNTech's CEO Ugur Sahin said recently that the Pfizer vaccine works against coronavirus variants such as the Delta while saying that, "it is quite possible that in the next six to 12 months, further variants will emerge."

Sahin asserted that the first generation vaccine is effective&nbsp;although he added that a decision to switch might "turn out to be wrong in three or six months if another variant is dominating. Therefore the timing of the decision must be appropriate".

"At the moment we have a good understanding that the booster vaccine with the parental strain is completely sufficient," Sahin stressed.

Pfizer-BioNTech has shipped around one billion doses of their vaccines to more than 100 countries even as several countries including Australia, US, Indonesia, Russia, Iran have witnessed a resurgence of virus cases.

(With inputs from Agencies)

China's virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as “bat woman”, who heads the Wuhan lab has predicted that "new variants will continue to emerge" even as the world battles the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.

China's virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as “bat woman”, who heads the Wuhan lab has predicted that "new variants will continue to emerge" even as the world battles the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19. Zhengli said the virus had "become too big" which allowed it to "mutate and select", while urging people to get vaccinated. The top Chinese virologist's concern comes as Wuhan authorities last week tested all 11 million residents after an outbreak was reported among migrant workers. Watch: "We shouldn't panic, but we need to prepare to co-exist with the virus in the long term," China's controversial bat woman said. Chinese authorities mobilised 28,000 health workers in thousands of testing sites across the city. Wuhan which first reported the virus in 2019 had reported zero cases for several months, however, the highly transferrable Delta variant has spread rapidly across the country in recent weeks with Nanjing becoming the epicentre of the virus. Health officials in China have put several cities on lockdown and undertaken mass testing amid a surge in virus cases. BioNTech's CEO Ugur Sahin said recently that the Pfizer vaccine works against coronavirus variants such as the Delta while saying that, "it is quite possible that in the next six to 12 months, further variants will emerge." Sahin asserted that the first generation vaccine is effective although he added that a decision to switch might "turn out to be wrong in three or six months if another variant is dominating. Therefore the timing of the decision must be appropriate". "At the moment we have a good understanding that the booster vaccine with the parental strain is completely sufficient," Sahin stressed. Pfizer-BioNTech has shipped around one billion doses of their vaccines to more than 100 countries even as several countries including Australia, US, Indonesia, Russia, Iran have witnessed a resurgence of virus cases. (With inputs from Agencies)

Warning from Wuhan's 'bat woman': New Covid variants will continue to emerge, says Shi Zhengli

The lab leak theory is gaining traction. As American sleuths investigate the Wuhan Lab angle, China's Batwoman Shi Zhengli has claimed that her lab didn't engage in any risky research. But, fresh reports are challenging her claims. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab?

Shi Zhengli, a top Chinese virologist has finally broken her silence on Wuhan lab leak theory. She denied claims that the COVID-19 virus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. She denounced the suspicions as baseless.

Top Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli refuted Wuhan lab leak theory

Shi Zhengli is a Director at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. She is known as the 'batwoman' for her research into bats. But, the top virologist has not been seen in public since the outbreak began.

Gravitas: China's batwoman goes 'missing'

She is a renowned virologist. She is an expert on coronavirus in bats. She is the supposed director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Shi Zhengli may have the answer to the question the world is asking. Did the coronavirus originate in her lab? But Shi Zhengli is missing.

This is just one of the many things that's mysterious about her. Shi Zhengli is called China's bat woman.&nbsp;Shi began her studies on bats in 2004. She has studied all kinds of bats. The ones picked from caves. The ones from the subtropical regions in the south. Her research was aimed at understanding the SARS&nbsp;outbreak.

She made a breakthrough in 2013. Shi Zhengli found bat faeces with the virus 96.2 per cent&nbsp;identical to the SARS&nbsp;COV-2. Yes, this is the same virus that caused COVID-19. In 2013, Shi began altering parts of the coronavirus. She wanted to study whether coronavirus can be transmitted from one species to another.

In 2015, she concluded that the SARS-like virus can jump from bats to human.&nbsp;On December 30, 2020, Shi received some samples from healthcare workers in Wuhan. The samples were from patients in Wuhan who were showing atypical pneumonia.This was a new coronavirus. The Wuhan coronavirus. By the time Shi Zhengli started analyzing the samples. It was too late. The virus had spread to the rest of China and within months, it had crossed borders.

Did this virus escape from Shi's lab? Only Shi has the answer. But she is missing. But on&nbsp;February 2, 2020, the virologist re-appeared online on WeChat.&nbsp;

She said- “I promise with my life that the virus has nothing to do with the lab'. A m

onth later, she reportedly admitted to having several sleepless nights. “Could they have come from our lab?” The bat expert was asking herself this question. Soon rumours surfaced on social media. Some claimed she defected to the West. And she took along with her years of confidential research on bat coronavirus. Word was that the Wuhan lab director was taking asylum at the US&nbsp;Embassy in Paris. Shi quashed these rumours. Again, on Wechat. “No matter how difficult things are, it [defecting] shall never happen,”&nbsp;

&nbsp;“We’ve done nothing wrong. With a strong belief in science, we will see the day when the clouds disperse and the sun shines.” She also posted nine pictures. Not of her lab, or herself, but evidence of being in Wuhan.&nbsp;Some said the Chinese had muzzled her. This sparked another set of questions.

Is Shi safe? Another clarification on Wechat.&nbsp; 'Everything is alright for my family and me, dear friends'.

If that is the case then where is China's bat woman. Why has she not been seen in public in months?

Can China say it has nothing to do with this disappearance?

She is a renowned virologist. She is an expert on coronavirus in bats. She is the supposed director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Shi Zhengli may have the answer to the question the world is asking.

She is a renowned virologist. She is an expert on coronavirus in bats. She is the supposed director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Shi Zhengli may have the answer to the question the world is asking. Did the coronavirus originate in her lab? But Shi Zhengli is missing. This is just one of the many things that's mysterious about her. Shi Zhengli is called China's bat woman. Shi began her studies on bats in 2004. She has studied all kinds of bats. The ones picked from caves. The ones from the subtropical regions in the south. Her research was aimed at understanding the SARS outbreak. She made a breakthrough in 2013. Shi Zhengli found bat faeces with the virus 96.2 per cent identical to the SARS COV-2. Yes, this is the same virus that caused COVID-19. In 2013, Shi began altering parts of the coronavirus. She wanted to study whether coronavirus can be transmitted from one species to another. In 2015, she concluded that the SARS-like virus can jump from bats to human. On December 30, 2020, Shi received some samples from healthcare workers in Wuhan. The samples were from patients in Wuhan who were showing atypical pneumonia.This was a new coronavirus. The Wuhan coronavirus. By the time Shi Zhengli started analyzing the samples. It was too late. The virus had spread to the rest of China and within months, it had crossed borders. Did this virus escape from Shi's lab? Only Shi has the answer. But she is missing. But on February 2, 2020, the virologist re-appeared online on WeChat. She said- “I promise with my life that the virus has nothing to do with the lab'. A m onth later, she reportedly admitted to having several sleepless nights. “Could they have come from our lab?” The bat expert was asking herself this question. Soon rumours surfaced on social media. Some claimed she defected to the West. And she took along with her years of confidential research on bat coronavirus. Word was that the Wuhan lab director was taking asylum at the US Embassy in Paris. Shi quashed these rumours. Again, on Wechat. “No matter how difficult things are, it [defecting] shall never happen,” “We’ve done nothing wrong. With a strong belief in science, we will see the day when the clouds disperse and the sun shines.” She also posted nine pictures. Not of her lab, or herself, but evidence of being in Wuhan. Some said the Chinese had muzzled her. This sparked another set of questions. Is Shi safe? Another clarification on Wechat. 'Everything is alright for my family and me, dear friends'. If that is the case then where is China's bat woman. Why has she not been seen in public in months? Can China say it has nothing to do with this disappearance?

China's 'bat woman' Shi Zhengli goes missing

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