CHINA’S “bat woman” has slammed claims that Covid leaked from her Wuhan lab.
Virologist Shi Zhengli said the theory was baseless and accused the world of “trying to pour filth on me”.
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Circumstantial evidence linking the virus’ origins to the Wuhan Institute of Virology – which was probing bat coronaviruses – is mounting.
Covid may have escaped by a researcher getting infected, improperly disposed of waste, or potential breaches in the security at the lab.
US spies are probing claims that the virus may have somehow escaped and gone to the infect the world – so far killing 3.8million people.
China denies the lab leak and all wrongdoing over its handling of the initial Covid outbreak in December 2019.
And Dr Zhengli has furiously denied all allegations against her and the lab – accusing the world of “pouring filth on an innocent scientist”.
The researcher – known as “bat woman” for her work – gave a rare interview to The New York Times.
She denied everything and said there was “no evidence” the virus leaked from a lab.
The scientist said: “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.”
Dr Shi also denied carrying out gain of function experiments – tests to make viruses more infectious – which are widely reported to have occurred at the lab.
And she also hit back at claims that WIV staff had become sick with Covid-like symptoms in November 2019, saying: “If possible, can you provide the names of the three to help us check.”
China has long been accused of covering up or distorting its role in the early days of the pandemic, with claims the Communist Party manipulated case and death figures while withholding information from WHO.
Beijing has a history of lab leaks in which deadly viruses have accidentally escaped and critics have highlighted what they allege is a gung-ho approach to safety.
There is currently no evidence to suggest the virus was intentionally released by China.
But a bombshell video suggests live bats were kept at the Wuhan lab at the centre of the Covid leak storm and were hand fed by scientists.
