Coronavirus: 2007 research paper warned of new SARS-like outbreak

A study published in 2007 predicted a SARS-like outbreak re-emerging in China, with researchers warning people not to ignore the threat.

A research paper published more than 10 years ago warned of the possible re-emergence of a SARS-like virus coming from China.

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong studied the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak and suggested a similar illness could emerge again from places like exotic animal markets in China.

The study, which was published in 2007 in Clinical Microbiology Reviews, described the culture of eating at these wet markets as a “time bomb” for a new virus.

“Coronaviruses are well known to undergo genetic recombination, which may lead to new genotypes and outbreaks,” the paper read.

“The presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats, together with the culture of eating exotic mammals in southern China, is a time bomb.”

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The 2007 research paper warned of a virus similar to SARS re-emerging in China. Picture: Mladen Antonov/AFP

The researchers, Vincent Cheng, Susanna Lau, Patrick Woo and Kwok Yung Yuen, noted that the rapid economic growth in China has led to an increasing demand for animal proteins, including exotic animals.

These wild animals are sold at wet markets and are often kept in overcrowded cages with little biosecurity measures, which allows a novel virus to jump from animals to humans.

The paper finished by warning there was a “possibility of the re-emergence of SARS and other novel viruses from animals or laboratories” and as a result “the need for preparedness should not be ignored”.

The COVID-19 virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year and is thought to have originated from the Wuhan animal market.

There are now more than 330,000 confirmed cases around the world and more than 14,700 have died from the virus.

Australia is battling to slow the spread of the virus, as the number of cases across the country continue to rise.

There are now more than 1600 confirmed cases in Australia and seven people have died.

New restrictions kicked in at midday this Monday forcing the closure of non-essential venues across the country including pubs, cinemas, gyms and places of worship.

Restaurants and cafes have also been restricted to just takeaway and delivery services.

Mr Morrison said the decision was taken because Australians were not adequately sticking to rules around social distancing.

People should keep at least 1.5m apart and not gather in large numbers.

But leaders will look at further shutdown measures if Australians continue to fail to heed the warnings to keep their distance and stop all non-essential travel and outings.

Over the weekend hundreds of people were pictured on Bondi Beach despite instructions to practice social distancing.

Mr Morrison ripped into the “negligent” beachgoers in a press conference on Sunday.

Beachgoers are seen on the sand prior to the closure of Bondi Beach in Sydney. Picture: James Gourley/AAP

“What we saw on the weekend at Bondi Beach would have been done innocently, but negligently done,” Mr Morrison said.

“And it is important that serves as a wake-up call for the entire country to ensure they take these social distancing policies very seriously.

“Coronavirus is not a secret. Everybody knows. It is wall-to-wall on every coverage, and every conversation happening around the country today.

“There is no excuse to say you do not know. You have to keep your healthy distance between each other. If Australians cannot do that, if they can’t do that on a broader scale, they are denying the government and authorities the most important weapon we have to save lives and to save livelihoods.”

There are also confusion surrounding whether or not parents should keep sending their children to school.

The Prime Minister insists schools remain open, but Victoria and ACT have brought forward school holidays to Tuesday and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged parents to keep their children home if possible.

Ms Berejiklian said online education would be in place until the school holidays, scheduled to start at Easter on April 10.

“There won’t be a separate class for kids at home, there won’t be a separate class for kids at school, there will be one unit of teaching which makes it simple and practical,” she told reporters.

The Federal Government also insists childcare centres should remain open based on medical advice.

- With AAP