China 'cloned' COVID-like virus to test on mice, acknowledges 'spillover' risk to humans (ABC 33/40)

In a report by researchers under a collaborative project China and Mongolia, scientists claim to have cloned a COVID-like virus commonly found in pangolins, onto mice. This has a 100% mortality rate between mice.

Each mouse tested had displayed symptoms and died within 8 days, with ‘late brain infection’ being the alleged cause. Researchers noted the virus could spill over to humans.

Francois Balloux, infectious disease expert and professor said via X that this study appeared completely scientifically pointless and moreover dangerous.