Sage members sent suspicious packages throughout pandemic, says leading scientist

Prof Calum Semple and others advising government on Covid-19 response have been targeted by anti-vaxxers

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Members of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have been sent suspicious packages and hate mail throughout the pandemic, one of the UK's leading virologists has revealed.

Prof Calum Semple, a member of Sage and the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said the incidents of abuse included one particularly nasty" experience when he was targeted by anti-vaxxers.