Bail hearing over smuggled fungus scheduled for Chinese researcher
A Michigan court has scheduled a bail hearing on Thursday for a Chinese researcher accused of smuggling biological samples into the US.
Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, 34, who conducted biological studies in the same field, were accused of smuggling a fungus into the US for research.
Jian, who according to a federal criminal complaint has worked on research projects in the US since 2022, made her first court appearance on Tuesday.
Liu was denied entry into the US last July, when the pathogen, a fungus identified by the US department of justice as Fusarium graminearum, was found in his luggage. Liu said he wanted to conduct research on the fungus at a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors described the fungus as a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon. The fungus is already widespread on US farms, tested for and tightly controlled in grains, and is not considered dangerous unless consumed in large quantities.
Clair Keene, an agronomist at North Dakota State University, said she was puzzled by US authorities' description of the fungus.
'It's a common pathogen. We have it here. The claim that Fusarium graminearum can be used as a biological weapon doesn't strike me as accurate,' she said.
The fungus can cause Fusarium head blight, typically known as scab. It is common among wheat, barley and other grains, especially during rainy years. The telltale salmon-pink streaks on the grain heads contain a toxic byproduct called vomitoxin, which in high quantities can cause nausea and vomiting when eaten.
Keene said farmers often spray fungicide to protect their crop and researchers have developed strains of wheat that are resistant to the fungus.
Reuters was unable to contact Jian or her lawyer for comment.
The case involving the researchers comes as the University of Michigan and other universities have faced pressure from the Trump administration over allegations they have done too little to combat anti-Semitism on campus and what the administration depicts as radical ideology in the classroom. Universities' ties to China also have come under scrutiny.
The University of Michigan said in a statement it condemned 'any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission'.
'It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals,' the university said, adding it will 'continue to co-operate' with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution.
FBI director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the case was a reminder that China's ruling Communist Party 'is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences ... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.'
In response to a request for comment, the Chinese embassy in Washington sent a statement from its spokesperson Liu Pengyu.
'I don't know the specific situation, but I would like to emphasise that the Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,' Liu said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
16 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Contraceptives for sub-Saharan Africa stuck in warehouses after US aid cuts
Contraceptives that could help prevent millions of unwanted pregnancies in some of the world's poorest countries are stuck in warehouses because of US aid cuts and could be destroyed, two aid industry sources and one former government official said. The stock, held in Belgium and Dubai, includes condoms, contraceptive implants, pills and intrauterine devices, together worth about $11m (R195.5m), the sources told Reuters. It has been stalled since the Trump administration started cutting foreign aid as part of its 'America First' policy in February, as the US government no longer wants to donate the contraceptives or pay the costs for delivery, they said. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has instead asked the contractor managing its health supply chain, Chemonics, to try to sell it, two of the sources said. An internal USAID memo, sent in April, said a quantity of contraceptives was being kept in warehouses and they should be 'immediately transferred to another entity to prevent waste or additional costs'. A senior US state department official told Reuters no decision had been made about the future of the contraceptives. They did not respond to questions about the reasons why the contraceptives were in storage or the impact of the US aid cuts and delays.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Mass vaccination of SA poultry launched, Biosecurity Council set up
Getting a grip on these multiple threats to animal health and welfare and the agricultural economy is vital and the Department of Agriculture is clearly signalling that it is taking a proactive approach. The first mass vaccination of poultry in South Africa is being launched to contain avian flu as the agriculture sector also grapples with a spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease infecting livestock that has been detected at the world's largest feedlot, in Gauteng. The Department of Agriculture also announced that it was establishing a Biosecurity Council as it strives to roll '… out a farm to fork national traceability system for livestock' and said it would upgrade the state-run Onderstepoort Biological Products, the main source of animal vaccines in South Africa that has been plagued in recent years by capacity issues. On the avian flu frontlines, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said in a statement that the vaccination team 'has received a list of farms to be vaccinated from the poultry industry and is prioritising high-risk areas and commercial flocks to contain the virus and prevent further culling'. Fifty animal health technicians have been roped in with short-term contracts to assist with the vaccination drive. Critically, the minister said that the department had 'secured vaccine supply' and that Onderstepoort Biological Products was being upgraded '… to restore vaccine self-sufficiency'. The Biosecurity Council will comprise the South African Police Service, veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority, and the industry. Getting a grip on these multiple threats to animal health and welfare and the agricultural economy is vital and the department is clearly signalling that it is taking a proactive approach. South Africa's biggest avian flu threat currently is an outbreak in Brazil — the country's biggest external poultry supplier — which led to a ban on imports three weeks ago. Although the ban is unlikely to cause immediate shortages due to lower seasonal demand and available local supply, it has heightened pressure on domestic producers to manage outbreaks and reinforce biosecurity. The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) said in a statement last month that the ban should not lead to shortages and that the industry had the capacity to increase domestic output. Foot-and-mouth outbreak Meanwhile, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock has spread from KwaZulu-Natal to the Highveld, triggering a Chinese ban on imports of South African beef products. This export curb is seen as boosting domestic supplies, and possibly as a result local beef prices may trend lower. But livestock movements in the country are being disrupted and this will have consequences for supply chains. The Department of Agriculture said it had ordered more than 900,000 doses of vaccines to cover KZN, and the first batch was expected to arrive next week. Karan Beef said this week that a case of foot-and-mouth disease had been confirmed at its Heidelberg feedlot — the world's largest, which produces 100 million kilogrammes of beef annually. The company said in a statement that about 120,000 cattle were currently housed at the facility, and about 2% of the herd was infected. 'No animals are entering or leaving the Heidelberg feedlot during this period. Vaccination efforts are pending availability from the state. Once initiated, a 14-day vaccination programme will commence, followed by a 14-day observation period,' Karan Beef said. 'A controlled slaughter-out process will be implemented once vaccinations are complete, under veterinary supervision. No mass culling is planned at this stage.' The outbreak coincides with the peak weaning season, and Karan Beef said this would disrupt national supply chains. 'Farmers may be forced to hold calves longer than usual due to limited feedlot capacity,' it said. The Department of Agriculture has urged all livestock farmers in South Africa to '… limit animal movement as far as possible'. DM What this means for you For now, chicken shortages or major price spikes are unlikely. Local producers say they can plug the gap left by the Brazil ban, and winter demand is typically lower. Beef prices may fall because of the export curb, but domestic supply chain disruptions also loom. The situation underscores how fragile South Africa's food system is — one outbreak, one trade restriction, and supply chains wobble. For farmers, expect tighter biosecurity checks and more scrutiny around livestock movements — especially if you're near outbreak zones.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Bail hearing over smuggled fungus scheduled for Chinese researcher
A Michigan court has scheduled a bail hearing on Thursday for a Chinese researcher accused of smuggling biological samples into the US. Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, 34, who conducted biological studies in the same field, were accused of smuggling a fungus into the US for research. Jian, who according to a federal criminal complaint has worked on research projects in the US since 2022, made her first court appearance on Tuesday. Liu was denied entry into the US last July, when the pathogen, a fungus identified by the US department of justice as Fusarium graminearum, was found in his luggage. Liu said he wanted to conduct research on the fungus at a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked, according to the complaint. Prosecutors described the fungus as a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon. The fungus is already widespread on US farms, tested for and tightly controlled in grains, and is not considered dangerous unless consumed in large quantities. Clair Keene, an agronomist at North Dakota State University, said she was puzzled by US authorities' description of the fungus. 'It's a common pathogen. We have it here. The claim that Fusarium graminearum can be used as a biological weapon doesn't strike me as accurate,' she said. The fungus can cause Fusarium head blight, typically known as scab. It is common among wheat, barley and other grains, especially during rainy years. The telltale salmon-pink streaks on the grain heads contain a toxic byproduct called vomitoxin, which in high quantities can cause nausea and vomiting when eaten. Keene said farmers often spray fungicide to protect their crop and researchers have developed strains of wheat that are resistant to the fungus. Reuters was unable to contact Jian or her lawyer for comment. The case involving the researchers comes as the University of Michigan and other universities have faced pressure from the Trump administration over allegations they have done too little to combat anti-Semitism on campus and what the administration depicts as radical ideology in the classroom. Universities' ties to China also have come under scrutiny. The University of Michigan said in a statement it condemned 'any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission'. 'It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals,' the university said, adding it will 'continue to co-operate' with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution. FBI director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the case was a reminder that China's ruling Communist Party 'is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences ... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.' In response to a request for comment, the Chinese embassy in Washington sent a statement from its spokesperson Liu Pengyu. 'I don't know the specific situation, but I would like to emphasise that the Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,' Liu said.
