Shi Zhengli, the Deputy Director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, warns that the coronavirus the world is currently facing is just the 'tip of the iceberg'. Zhengli is known as China's 'bat woman' due to her extensive work in bat viruses since 2004.
Despite accusations towards China covering up the danger posed by coronavirus, she called for greater international cooperation in fighting against epidemics, such as the one experienced now with COVID-19.
She mentioned that she finds it 'regrettable' when science is politicised. Nevertheless, she warns scientists and people all over the world that if the next wave of infectious diseases were to be prevented, the only way to combat it is to act now.
Zhengli urges doing studies in advance to learn about the unknown viruses carried by wild animals to give early warnings and precautions. She cautions that if animal viruses are not explored, the possibility of another outbreak would not be questionable.
Turning Sour on China
The relationship between China and the US has not been in good shape recently. Since the US administration's accusation of the coronavirus breaking loose from a lab in China, things went down south from there.
Furthermore, the administration added accusations saying the country tried to cover up the initial outbreak. According to Wang Yanyi, the Director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the allegations that the virus originated from the lab in Wuhan are 'pure fabrication'.
In 2015, Zhengli confirmed that a SARS-like virus could jump from bats to humans. Her prediction indeed came true as the world now faces the deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Furthermore, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told National Geographic in May that evidence was keen that the virus in bats might have caused the outbreak. He adds that it is unlikely that the virus was artificially made or deliberately manipulated.
Past Epidemics Originating From Animal Viruses
Viruses coming from animals have affected the human race for centuries now. In 1918, the influenza pandemic swept the world within just months. The virus that originated from birds reportedly caused the lives of approximately 50 million people. It has been one of the worst epidemics recorded for the short time frame involved.
Furthermore, the H1N1 influenza virus also infected more than 33 percent of the globe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was first identified in the United States by military personnel and was believed to have killed an estimated 675,000 Americans.
Another disease well known to have caused mass deaths is the bubonic plague. It is thought to be carried by rodents and even cats. The bacillus called Yersinia pestis transfers to humans through bites from infected fleas.
The plague of the 14th century appeared after the rare bacteria had been inactive for centuries in Asia's Gobi Desert. After being roused in the 1320s, it found its way back along trade routes from China, through parts of Asia, and eventually to Italy in 1347, then later to Russia.
