To divide
Wuhan researchers are certain that society will have to expect another coronavirus outbreak in the future. Multiple hotspots are conceivable.
Wuhan – Researcher Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is considered a globally recognized coronavirus expert. In a published text, the virologist and colleagues now warn of a new coronavirus that could emerge in the future. A scenario in which society is confronted with a new coronavirus at an unspecified time is therefore “highly likely”.
“It is almost certain that diseases will occur in the future and it is very likely that it will be a CoV disease again”, write the participating researchers in their publication, published in July in the scientific journal “Emerging Microbes & Infections”. The risk: According to publication, infectious diseases caused by coronaviruses in particular pose a major threat to public health. German experts also continue to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated against Covid, for example.
Wuhan virologist warns of “high probability” of new corona outbreaks
Shi Zhengli plays a central role in an ongoing global debate and investigation into the origin of the Covid-19 disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. She is also known by the nickname “Batwoman” because she focuses on researching viruses that spread from animals – mainly bats – to humans. Now, according to Zhengli, the world should be prepared for a new virus. “If a coronavirus has caused disease before, there is a high probability that it will continue to cause outbreaks in the future.”
A medical worker in a laboratory in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province. (Symbolic photo) © Cheng Min/XinHua/dpa
The information and assessments of virologists in the publication therefore remain very vague. In the end, no one can predict when a new coronavirus might emerge. The research content should be seen as more than a “coronavirus dictionary”, a scientist from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told the South China Morning Post. The study doesn’t provide any groundbreaking information, but it does provide an important foundation for dealing with viruses: “Just as we need a mushroom manual to avoid consuming harmful mushrooms, we need to develop such tools for pathogens.”
Pathogens and hotspots for new coronaviruses: According to researchers, these scenarios are conceivable
According to the researchers, the CoV species that cause disease in humans would likely be the pathogens of a future outbreak. It is also assumed that in a new outbreak, “SARSr-CoV transmitted by bats, transmitted by ACE2, MERS-CoV transmitted by camels, or alphaCoV1 and betaCoV1 transmitted by domestic mammals would be the hotspots”.
The fact that coronaviruses pose a serious threat to the health of society is a topic of constant debate. It was only in September that a study was published that, in addition to severe lung damage in Long Covid patients, also found brain and kidney damage. (nz)