Virologist, Dr. Shi Zhengli aka batwoman demystifies the speculations of a COVID-19 virus lab leak. She calls it baseless. However, China’s general secrecy makes it difficult for her claims to be accepted.
Several sides to the Batwoman
Shi Zhengli is many things to many people. The top virologist is a hero to the Chinese people and government. She is the driving force behind curbing and controlling the pandemic. To a large number of politicians and researchers across the world, Zhengli is the only link to learning the truth behind the origin of the virus. unfortunately, the scientist is also a victim of several conspiracy theories. Because once again she is at the epicenter of debates on the origin and possible leak of the coronavirus.
“In all the work we do, if just once you can prevent the outbreak of an illness, then what we’ve done will be very meaningful,” said Dr. Shi to China’s state broadcast in 2017.
Scientists agree that the virus could not have escaped from her lab easily. This is because they agree that there is no direct evidence to prove a leak from the laboratory. Moreover, people point to several unsettling questions since there is a lack of thorough investigation. Some believe that Dr. Shi performed risky experiments with coronavirus carrying bats. They also claim that the lab was not safe. Some others point to documents and reports that suggest coronavirus among staff in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, Dr. Shi has constantly denied the COVID-19 lab leak claims and has been trying hard to defend her lab and country’s reputation. She also negated the claims that members of the institute contracted the virus beforehand.
I have nothing to fear– Zhengli
“How on earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence? I don’t know how the world has come to this, constantly pouring filth on an innocent scientist,” she asks with frustration. More and more questions arise wondering if her lab held the virus. Unfortunately, due to China’s refusal to answering questions and allowing independent investigations, the poor scientist’s claims are baseless. In addition to this, a recent study reports how the wet markets in Wuhan had several animals that could harbor the virus right before the pandemic hit.
Dr. Shi has been working on bats and the viruses they harbor since 2004, after the SARS epidemic. The elite scientist is also recognized and elected to the American Academy of Microbiology, as an honor to her contributions to the field. She has led several expeditions to understand how viruses jump from animals to humans. “I’m sure that I did nothing wrong. So I have nothing to fear.” she wrote in her messages.
