Chinese survey and database on important new viruses ‘delayed by red tape’

A Chinese survey and database of pathogenic viruses that infect animals and sometimes jump to humans was authorised last year, but a researcher says it has been delayed by red tape.The project could potentially identify future public health threats like the new coronavirus and was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology last year, before the global pandemic began.It is being led by virologist and evolutionary biologist Zhang Yongzhen, from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and…