
A Japanese manga artist who gained fame for eerily accurate predictions has once again drawn attention, this time for a warning that the COVID-19 virus could return soon.
Ryo Tatsuki, often referred to as Japan’s “Baba Vanga,” reportedly foresaw the 2020 outbreak in a 1999 comic book and also hinted at its re-emergence roughly a decade later.
In her comic titled The Future As I See It, Baba Vanga wrote, “Around 2020, an unknown virus will appear, reaching its peak in April.” While she did not specify the exact year of that April, the initial prediction was strikingly accurate. The COVID pandemic gripped the globe starting in late 2019, with the Delta wave in 2021 causing some of the deadliest surges.
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The virus may return in 2030, says Baba Vanga
According to her writings, Baba Vanga suggested the virus “will vanish but reappear around 10 years later.” If her timeline holds true, that would place a potential return around the year 2030. The comic, first published more than two decades ago, has resurfaced in discussions as public health officials warn about future pandemics.
Baba Vanga has previously made predictions that many claim came true, including the deaths of Princess Diana and singer Freddie Mercury. She reportedly receives visions in her dreams and records them in writing.
A warning echoed by global experts
While scientists have not confirmed anything about a COVID comeback, many are warning about the risks posed by “Disease X”—a hypothetical next pandemic that could stem from unknown pathogens. The World Health Organization has recently signed agreements to improve pandemic preparedness amid rising global concerns over new threats such as H5N1 bird flu, measles, mpox, and Ebola.
The 15-year prophecy cycle
Tatsuki’s predictions reportedly follow a 15-year cycle, meaning if a pandemic doesn’t return in 2030, it could still materialize in 2045. She has also made other alarming predictions, including a tsunami in July 2025, which some believe could indicate the accuracy of her broader visions.
Whether one believes in prophecy or not, experts agree: the world must stay prepared.