A Chinese scientist is at the center of unsubstantiated claims that the coronavirus leaked from her laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The surprise statement from Professor Shi Zhengli comes as a World Health Organization team prepares to travel to Wuhan next month to begin its investigation into the origins of Covid-19.
A BBC Team tried to visit Tongguan, China's southern south-western province of Yunnan, but when trying to reach it they were denied access. Their intended destination was an abandoned copper mine. Back in 2012, six workers acquired a mystery illness that would eventually kill three of the workers. Those 3 deaths are now the center of the entire world which led to the global pandemic and the questions surrounding the virus was if it was from a lab or from simply nature itself.
The research has been led by professor Shi Zhenghli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. She's been known as “China's Batwoman” and has since been trying to prevent more outbreaks. She traps bats and takes fecal samples and takes them all the way back to Wuhan, since then her team has indemnified hundreds of new bat coronaviruses.
Although Wuhan is one of the world's top research facilities, they are hesitant to welcome visitors: “I would personally welcome any form of visit, based on an open, transparent, trusting, reliable and reasonable dialogue. But the specific plan is not decided by me.”
The Chinese government and Professor Shi have since denied the allegation of the virus leak from the Wuhan lab. "I have communicated with the WHO experts twice," she wrote, when asked if an investigation might help rule out a lab leak and end the speculation. "I have personally and clearly expressed that I would welcome them to visit the WIV," she said.
Furthermore, many scientists believe that the Sars- Cov-2, the virus that causes covid-19 was naturally from bats all the way to humans possibly via other species.
Professor Shi has done the majority of the bat research and sampling. which later led to, the lab leak theory. When asked about these rumors she replied with "I've yet to see any evidence at all of a lab leak or a lab involvement in this outbreak," he said. "I have seen substantial evidence that these are naturally occurring phenomena driven by human encroachment into wildlife habitat, which is clearly on display across south-east Asia."
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.
About the writer:
Krystal Martinez is a staff writer for The Lion's Roar. You can learn more information about her by clicking here.
Comments