Chinese scientists have conducted a study involving a genetically modified COVID-19 strain that proved to have a 100% death rate in “humanized” mice, causing significant concerns in the scientific community. The study, originating from Beijing, introduced a mutant virus known as GX_P2V to mice engineered to have human-like genetic makeup. The GX_P2V virus, a mutated form of the GX/2017 coronavirus discovered in Malaysian pangolins in 2017, exhibited aggressive pathogenicity in these mice. The virus infected multiple organs, including lungs, bones, eyes, tracheas, and notably, the brains of the mice, leading to their death within eight days. This rapid mortality rate and the severe brain infection were highlighted as particularly concerning aspects of the study. In the latter stages of the infection, the mice displayed rapid weight loss, a hunched posture, and sluggish movement. Strikingly, their eyes turned completely white a day before death. The study is the first to report a 100% mortality rate in mice infected with a COVID-19-related virus, far surpassing the fatality rates of previous studies. Despite these alarming results, the impact of GX_P2V on humans remains unclear, but the study has drawn sharp criticism from experts in the field. Francois Balloux, an epidemiologist at University College London’s Genetics Institute, condemned the research as “terrible” and “scientifically totally pointless.” Balloux raised concerns about the potential risks and lack of scientific value in infecting humanized mice with the virus. Moreover, Balloux noted the absence of detailed biosafety measures in the research publication, raising concerns about the containment and practices used during the study. This omission of safety measures has drawn parallels with the research conducted in Wuhan between 2016-2019, which has is widely believed to be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 study is reportedly not connected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been at the center of lab leak theories related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While US intelligence agencies found no direct evidence of a lab leak, they have not ruled out the possibility of the virus originating from another lab. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)