Latest news with #ShiZhengli
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
World Health Organisation admits they STILL have no idea what caused Covid pandemic – but refuses to rule out lab leak
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A LEADING theory that the Covid pandemic originated from a lab leak in China cannot be ruled out, the World Health Organisation said. A team of experts set up by the WHO in 2021 to investigate Covid's origins said 'all hypotheses remain on the table' - while also accusing Beijing of not giving up critical information. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 China's Wuhan lab has been at the centre of the lab leak theory since Covid emerged just miles from the facility 7 Staff members line up at attention as they prepare to spray disinfectant at Wuhan Railway Station 7 Dr Shi Zhengli - dubbed 'Batwoman' for her research on bat coronaviruses - at the Wuhan Institute of Virology The Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (Sago) said on Friday that most data suggests the idea that the virus jumped from animals to humans. This is the same conclusion the WHO came to in 2021. Watch the documentary in full on our YouTube channel here Their new report made the bombshell claim that a lab leak theory should "not be ruled out". But they added: "Nor can it be proven until more information is provided." Group chair Marietjie Venter said after three years of investigating, they were unable to come to a certain conclusion of the pandemic's origins. They blasted China for not releasing all necessary data to determine Covid's creation - despite hundreds of requests for genetic sequences and biosecurity information to the government. She Venter: "Therefore, this hypothesis could not be investigated or excluded. "It was deemed to be very speculative, based on political opinions and not backed up by science." Venter said the 27-member group could not reach a unanimous conclusion on Covid's origins, following one member's resignation earlier this week. Three other scientists also asked for their names to be removed from the new report. I was in Oval Office with Trump at start of pandemic - no one was closer to Chinese officials than me & I believe Covid was engineered in lab Covid-19 emerged just eight miles from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Scientists there had been importing and manipulating bat coronaviruses and had been filmed handling animals with inadequate protection. Venter added that there was no evidence proving Covid was created in a lab, nor was there any indication it was spreading before December 2019 anywhere outside of China. She said: "Until more scientific data becomes available, the origins of how SARS-CoV-2 entered human populations will remain inconclusive." Beijing has consistently refused to release full details about the lab in Wuhan, despite repeated requests for information from multiple countries. 7 A woman wearing a face mask holds a baby that wears a protective shield in Wuhan 7 The P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan Credit: AFP 7 Covid killed millions worldwide in the pandemic It comes after The Sun's explosive Covid lab leak documentary laid bare the mounting evidence and disturbing questions surrounding the virus's emergence in Wuhan - home to China's most secretive bio-research facility. In April, the US unveiled a bombshell new web page on the origins of Covid, blaming the Wuhan Institute of Virology for unleashing the killer virus. And in a fresh propaganda push, Beijing insisted "substantial evidence" showed Covid "might have emerged in the United States earlier than its officially-claimed timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China". The document - titled Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China's Actions and Stance - was released via China's official Xinhua news agency. It unashamedly accused the US of "indifference and delayed actions" during the global Covid fight - and of scapegoating China to deflect from its own "mismanaged" response. It wrote: "The US has made China the primary scapegoat for its own mismanaged COVID-19 response." 7 Security guards keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology The report added that America was 'spreading misinformation' and wasted 'precious time China had secured for the global fight against the pandemic". It revived Beijing's long-standing claims that it shared information with the world in a "timely manner". The paper added: 'The US should not continue to 'pretend to be deaf and dumb', but should respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community.' In May Donald Trump banned all US funding for risky virus research in China and beyond, five years after Covid-19 upended the planet. The US President said in the Oval Office last month: 'I said that right from day one it leaked out — whether it was to the girlfriend or somebody else, [a] scientist walked outside to have lunch with the girlfriend or was together with a lot of people — but that's how it leaked out in my opinion."
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
World Health Organisation admits they STILL have no idea what caused Covid pandemic – but refuses to rule out lab leak
A LEADING theory that the Covid pandemic originated from a lab leak in China cannot be ruled out, the World Health Organisation said. A Advertisement 7 China's Wuhan lab has been at the centre of the lab leak theory since Covid emerged just miles from the facility 7 Staff members line up at attention as they prepare to spray disinfectant at Wuhan Railway Station 7 Dr Shi Zhengli - dubbed 'Batwoman' for her research on bat coronaviruses - at the Wuhan Institute of Virology The Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (Sago) said on Friday that most data suggests the This is the same Watch the documentary in full on our YouTube channel Their new But they added: "Nor can it be proven until more information is provided." Advertisement Group chair Marietjie Venter said after three years of investigating, they were unable to come to a certain They blasted China for not releasing all necessary data to determine Covid's creation - despite hundreds of requests for genetic sequences and biosecurity information to the She Venter: "Therefore, this hypothesis could not be investigated or excluded. "It was deemed to be very speculative, based on political opinions and not backed up by science." Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Venter said the 27-member group could not reach a unanimous conclusion on Three other scientists also asked for their names to be removed from the new report. I was in Oval Office with Trump at start of pandemic - no one was closer to Chinese officials than me & I believe Covid was engineered in lab Covid-19 emerged just eight miles from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Scientists there had been importing and manipulating bat coronaviruses and had been filmed handling animals with inadequate protection. Advertisement Venter added that there was no evidence proving Covid was created in a lab, nor was there any indication it was spreading before December 2019 anywhere outside of China. She said: "Until more scientific data becomes available, the origins of how SARS-CoV-2 entered human populations will remain inconclusive." Beijing has consistently refused to release full details about the lab in Wuhan, despite repeated requests for information from multiple countries. 7 A woman wearing a face mask holds a baby that wears a protective shield in Wuhan Advertisement 7 The P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan Credit: AFP 7 Covid killed millions worldwide in the pandemic It comes after The Sun's explosive Covid lab leak documentary laid bare the mounting evidence and disturbing questions surrounding the virus's emergence in Wuhan - home to China's most secretive bio-research facility. In April, the US unveiled a bombshell new Advertisement And in a fresh propaganda push, Beijing insisted "substantial evidence" showed Covid "might have emerged in the United States earlier than its officially-claimed timeline, and earlier than the outbreak in China". The document - titled Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China's Actions and Stance - was released via China's official Xinhua news agency. It unashamedly accused the US of "indifference and delayed actions" during the global Covid fight - and of scapegoating China to deflect from its own "mismanaged" response. It wrote: "The US has made China the primary scapegoat for its own mismanaged COVID-19 response." Advertisement 7 Security guards keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology The report added that America was 'spreading misinformation' and wasted 'precious time China had secured for the global fight against the pandemic". It revived Beijing's long-standing claims that it shared information with the world in a "timely manner". Advertisement The paper added: 'The US should not continue to 'pretend to be deaf and dumb', but should respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community.' Read more on the Irish Sun In May Donald Trump banned all US funding for risky virus research in China and beyond, five years after Covid-19 upended the planet. The US President said in the Oval Office last month: 'I said that right from day one it leaked out — whether it was to the girlfriend or somebody else, [a] scientist walked outside to have lunch with the girlfriend or was together with a lot of people — but that's how it leaked out in my opinion ." The Sun's investigation into the origins of Covid 'Smoking gun' docs show Pentagon US government Wuhan Covid 'lab leak' firm Covid was Crumbling sewers, no PPE, & filthy cages – Wuhan Covid 'lab leak' scientists China's Secret memo shows how Wuhan lab chief France
News18
06-06-2025
- Health
- News18
Next Pandemic Soon? Bat Viruses In China Show Covid-Like Threat, Scientists Warn
Last Updated: Like SARS-CoV-2- the virus behind Covid-19- these bat viruses use spike proteins to invade host cells by attaching to the ACE2 receptor. A newly published study in Nature Communications raised alarm as it showed that a little-known group of bat viruses could be just a single mutation away from infecting humans. The research, conducted by teams from Washington State University, Caltech and the University of North Carolina, zeroes in on HKU5 viruses—a subgroup within the merbecoviruses, which are relatives of MERS-CoV, the deadly coronavirus that emerged in 2012 and carries a fatality rate of around 34%. 'HKU5 viruses haven't been studied much, but our research shows they have the machinery to infect cells. In fact, they might be only a single step away from being able to infect humans," Dr. Michael Letko, the study's lead author and a virologist at Washington State University, said. The Spike Protein Problem Like SARS-CoV-2- the virus behind Covid-19- these bat viruses use spike proteins to invade host cells by attaching to the ACE2 receptor. Currently, HKU5 viruses bind to ACE2 only in bats. But scientists warn that a tiny genetic change could allow them to jump to humans. Supporting this concern, some HKU5 variants have already been seen infecting minks in China- proof that they can jump between species. Adding to the urgency, researchers used AlphaFold 3, a cutting-edge AI tool, to model how these spike proteins could evolve. The software simulated potential mutations and interactions with human cells in minutes, accurately matching traditional lab results. Scientists' Warning For The Future The new findings align with earlier research led by China's renowned virologist Shi Zhengli- often dubbed the 'batwoman." Her team had found that HKU5-CoV-2, a variant in this group, was capable of infecting human cells in test tubes and lab models of the human respiratory and digestive systems. The researchers also identified potential monoclonal antibodies and antivirals that could target the virus if it crosses over. Dr. Letko stressed, 'There's no need to panic, but there is every reason to prepare." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: June 06, 2025, 19:01 IST
Gulf Insider
01-03-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
"Bat Lady" Research Team In Wuhan 'Find' COVID-Like Virus That Can Infect Humans
Chinese researchers, led by a virologist whose work had fueled concerns about a possible COVID-19 lab leak, have discovered a new bat coronavirus that is similar to the one that causes COVID-19, and that is capable of infecting humans. The virus, called HKU5-CoV-2, can enter human cells through the ACE2 receptor, the same gateway for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that sparked a global pandemic five years ago, according to a study recently published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Cell. The lead researcher is Shi Zhengli, who, for years, led work on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab that has been under scrutiny amid ongoing questions about the origins of COVID-19. The researchers collected nearly 1,000 anal swabs from pipistrellus bats across five Chinese provinces and took them to the state-owned Wuhan research institute. The virus belongs to a distinct lineage of coronaviruses that also include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus. Lab experiments indicate this virus strain may infect a wide range of mammals. The HKU5-CoV-2 has the potential to jump from one species to another, researchers said, noting the recent detection of viral sequences closely related to HKU5-CoV in farmed minks. The virus doesn't enter human cells as readily as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, suggesting the risk of its 'emergence in human populations should not be exaggerated,' the paper states. The researchers also identified antibodies and antiviral drugs that target the virus. Findings about the virus raised concerns from Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist and laboratory director at Rutgers University's Waksman Institute of Microbiology, who has been critical of the Wuhan Institute's virus experiments. 'In nature, this virus poses minimal threat to humans,' he told The Epoch Times on Feb. 25. 'However, [with] laboratory enhancement of transmissibility or pathogenicity, this virus could create a highly extremely threatening new bioweapons agent and pandemic pathogen.' China is currently experiencing a surge of human metapneumovirus cases while the regime continues to resist international probes of the origin of COVID-19. In January, the CIA became the third U.S. executive agency to back the theory that the SARS-CoV-2 virus might have come from a Chinese lab.
Russia Today
23-02-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Chinese researchers find new bat-to-human coronavirus
A Chinese research team has discovered a new bat coronavirus which uses the same receptor as Covid-19 to infect humans. The study shows the need to monitor the pathogen to prevent it from spreading, Reuters reported on Saturday. The novel virus represents a distinct lineage of the HKU5 coronavirus, originally identified in the Japanese Pipistrelle bat in Hong Kong. The study, conducted at the Guangzhou Laboratory, was led by Shi Zhengli, often referred to as 'batwoman' because of her extensive work on bat coronaviruses. Zhengli is best known for her work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been at the center of controversy regarding the origins of Covid-19. While one theory posits a lab leak in Wuhan, Shi has consistently denied that the institute was to blame for the outbreak. In December last year, the US Congressional Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic finished a 520-page report on the origin of the infection. The two-year investigation claimed that the Chinese government, along with some international experts and agencies 'sought to cover up facts concerning the origins of the pandemic.' Beijing has rejected the lab-leak theory. First detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, the coronavirus spread far beyond the country's borders, killing over seven million people worldwide.
