China's 'Batwoman' warns future coronavirus outbreak 'highly likely' after identifying dangerous animal hosts
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China's top virologist Shi Zhengli warns another coronavirus outbreak is "highly likely" in the future based on a recent study. She is known as "batwoman" for her research on viruses spreading from bats to humans.
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The study identified 40 coronavirus species, half of which were rated "highly risky" for spreading to humans.
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Evidence suggested 3 more of the viruses caused disease or infected animals. The study examined viral traits like size, genetic diversity, and prior zoonotic infections.
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Shi's team identified important animal hosts like bats, rodents, camels, civets, pigs, and pangolins that could transmit coronaviruses.
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Some in China are downplaying COVID-19 and avoiding the topic, while UK experts warn of a potential pandemic on the scale of the 1918 Spanish flu dubbed "Disease X."