India, June 8 -- A top US-based expert on China has warned of "something worse" than COVID-19 if the United States does not take drastic action over the fungus smuggling case, media reports said.

The warning comes days after two Chinese scientists were charged with allegedly smuggling a toxic fungus into the US.

The fungus has the potential to cause "head blight," a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice.

It causes vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.

The couple had previously conducted work on the fungus in China.

Chang said that if the US does not take drastic steps like cutting off ties with China, it may be hit "perhaps with something worse" than Covid.

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