Chinese virologist ‘Batwoman’ fires fresh salvo: Prep for another coronavirus outbreak in future

In a world where the risk of viral spillover remains a concern, Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli, popularly known as "Batwoman" raised a red flag about the high probability of another coronavirus outbreak in the future. The warning comes in the wake of her recent research co-authored with colleagues, who said, “If a coronavirus caused diseases to emerge before, there is a high chance it will cause future outbreaks”.

Shi's prediction

The basis of Shi's prediction is rooted in a comprehensive analysis of various viral characteristics, including population dynamics, genetic diversity, host species, and the history of zoonotic transmission, which pertains to diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

• Her recent study, conducted with her team, evaluated the spillover risk of 40 different coronavirus species into human populations.
• The discomforting findings reveal that approximately half of these species have been termed "highly risky."
• Among this group, six have already caused diseases in humans, while evidence suggests that three have infected other animal species.
• The research also concludes that "future disease emergence" is almost a certainty, with a high likelihood of another coronavirus-related outbreak.

Why "Batwoman", though?

The Wuhan Institute of Virology based, Shi Zhengli is called the "Batwoman" for her extensive work on viruses originating from animals, specifically from bats, and transmitting to human beings, reported the South China Morning Post.

ALSO READ: How Xi Jinping ate bats and muzzled Bat Woman

Shi called for preparedness

• Shi Zhengli's warning comes with the urgent need for global preparedness in health infrastructure in the face of potential future pandemics.
• The study she co-authored in the English-language journal Emerging Microbes & Infections (Second Issue), was published in June 2023 and gained widespread attention on Chinese social media only recently.
• As "Batwoman" asserts, the study's identification of "highly risky" coronavirus species and the development of testing tools to monitor them are vital steps in being better prepared for potential outbreaks.
• Such knowledge can expedite the process of testing and developing vaccines in response to future public health challenges in the future.

While many around the world have, time and again, debated the origins and the subsequent spread of COVID-19 and a potential lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, insights like this from Wuhan may serve as a reminder of the importance of preparedness for the sake of global health security.