Their research revealed that coronaviruses and their natural hosts are engaged in an evolutionary competition that encourages genetic diversity within the virus.
Zhengli and her team, affiliated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), classified half of the 40 known coronavirus species as “highly risky” after assessing their potential for spillover to humans. Evidence indicates that three more of these coronaviruses can cause diseases or infect other animal species, and six of them have previously caused illnesses in humans.
The study emphasized, “It is almost certain that there will be further disease emergence, and it is highly likely that a [coronavirus] disease will emerge again,” as reported by the Global Times. This research was published in the July issue of the English-language journal Emerging Microbes & Infections and has recently garnered attention on Chinese social media.
However, despite the warnings from Shi Zhengli and her team about the possibility of another coronavirus outbreak, some Chinese virologists have dismissed the notion of a recurrence of the three-year-old global pandemic. They argue that the increased immunity acquired by the majority of the population during that time could help prevent future outbreaks. Nevertheless, these virologists have also cautioned against the possibility of occasional coronavirus outbreaks in the future. The new coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, has been spreading rapidly since late 2019.
A September 5 report from the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections noted that the Omicron variant has been the primary concern in most countries since November 2021, according to the Global Times.
In light of the dual threat of COVID-19 and influenza in the coming autumn and winter, Chinese physicians and healthcare professionals have urged the public to receive booster vaccinations by the end of October.
