Slack / Private Message Drop — page 686

[Eddie Holmes] From Zhang "More works are needed for the intermediate hosts. Last year, Tian had collected a few of samples from raccoon dogs and others in the surrounding area of Wuhan when COVID-19 appeared. However, his work was stopped." [2021-04-07 17:32:05] [Kristian Andersen] They know it's the farming.... [2021-04-07 17:34:57] [Eddie Holmes] It's definitely sounding that way... [2021-04-07 18:16:01] [Robert Garry] From Gorman's "FAR AND BALANCED" "reporting." "Whereas many virologists and disease specialists want to collect and study viruses as a way to learn more and be more prepared for outbreaks, Mr. Metzl said he and others wanted more restrictions on virus studies. "It absolutely makes sense to establish a global regulatory system overseeing aggressive work with dangerous or deadly pathogens everywhere," he said. [2021-04-07 18:17:09] [Robert Garry] How did Jamie Metzl become the world 's authority on work on deadly pathogens? [2021-04-07 18:17:59] [Robert Garry] "more restrictions on virus studies" Yeah that's the ticket! [2021-04-07 18:21:24] [Eddie Holmes] More from the journo: [2021-04-07 18:21:28] [Eddie Holmes] "Did you ever run into a person called Yang Guoxiang, Senior Engineer, Hubei Wildlife Epidemic Source and Disease Surveillance Center - he was on the China side of the China-WHO study team. Stopped by his rescue center yesterday but he wasn't around. The "ayi" at the gate was kind enough to give me his mobile number though. This place is also a wildlife rescue center. It is also right next to the zoo. Some of these wildlife rescue centers in other parts of the country have been very problematic. There's been an ongoing case of an NGO in Beijing suing one of these places [they're affiliated with the Forestry and Grassland Administration, which handles wildlife protection AND use] in Guangxi. That center frequently "rescued" pangolins and then sent them out the back door to companies that procured licenses to hold/breed them. Most of the companies had nothing to do with wildlife. One was an energy company. Others were tied to TCM pharma. The people at the one on the outskirts of Shenzhen I went to before were very unfriendly when I stopped by a couple years ago and didn't want to talk about any of their activities. They did have a huge [and hugely weird] taxidermy exhibit ..." [2021-04-07 18:21:48] [Eddie Holmes] Wild. [2021-04-07 18:24:17] [Kristian Andersen] Hah - that's crazy. [2021-04-07 18:24:51]