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China's 'bat woman' defends Wuhan lab at centre of conspiracy theory

Shi Zhengli has called for more study on the animals thought to have brought about the novel coronavirus - AFP
Shi Zhengli has called for more study on the animals thought to have brought about the novel coronavirus - AFP

The Chinese virologist whose work on coronaviruses found in bats led to her being dubbed 'Bat Woman' has appeared on state television to defend her work.

“The unknown viruses we have discovered are actually just the tip of the iceberg,” said Shi Zhengli. “If we want to prevent humans suffering from the next infectious disease outbreak, we must go in advance to learn of these unknown viruses carried by wild animals in nature and then give early warnings.”

“These viruses exist in nature, whether we admit it or not,” she said. “If we don’t study them, there could be another outbreak.”

Ms Shi is the deputy director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab that studies dangerous pathogens at the center of a conspiracy theory that the coronavirus sweeping the globe was leaked due to poor controls.

Shi Zhengli's research team collecting samples in the field at night
Shi Zhengli's research team collecting samples in the field at night

The rumours were super-charged when US president Donald Trump suggested the lab played a role in the pandemic that has now infected 5.6 million people and killed nearly 351,000.

The Chinese government has denied the allegations, instead saying the US military was to blame for bringing the virus to China.

Ms Shi is one of many Chinese virologists and public health officials paraded on state media in recent days to repeat that the coronavirus did not escape from the lab and extol containment success.

The appearances are part of wider efforts by Beijing to deflect growing criticism over its cover-up of the outbreak and lack of transparency, which potentially exacerbated how the disease spread.

Wang Yangyi, director of the Wuhan lab, said allegations the virus came from the lab was “pure fabrication,” in a separate state media interview.

Those state media reports have also said the coronavirus wasn’t found at a seafood market in Wuhan, ground zero of the pandemic, and where scientists believe the outbreak emerged.

No coronavirus was detected in animal samples collected from the seafood market, Gao Fu, director of China’s centers for disease control and prevention, told state media.

“It now turns out that the market is one of the victims,” Mr Gao said.