Worldwide, about 170 million people have been diagnosed with SARS CoV-2 and more than 3.4 million have died. But where does this so contagious virus come from that paralyzed the world’s economies for months and destroyed the existence of who knows how many others? So far there have been only more assumptions than facts as to where the world pandemic originated.
A possible accident at the Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China, was recently reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing a report by a US secret service, according to which in November 2019, three employees of the institute, who became seriously ill with the same symptoms as those of Covid, had been in a clinic. The US Secret Service now wants to gather credible facts instead of speculation about a possible laboratory accident in China and will submit a report within 90 days, President Biden has ordered. “The US will continue “Cooperate with partners with the same intentions to increase pressure on China to participate in an international, fact-based, comprehensive, transparent investigation and to allow access to all necessary data and evidence.” .
China has accused the United States of politicizing research and blaming China for the pandemic. At the same time this country likely site of origin of the virus blocks an open investigation and denies any responsibility.
What is known about the virus?
As early as January 2020, Chinese researchers found the cause for an increase in a previously unknown lung disease, from which many people in Wuhan city had lost their lives. In their airway cells they found the genes of an RNA virus from the Corona virus family, which was categorized into subgroup B (Betacoronavirus).
This virus, which was definitely completely new, nevertheless bore a strong resemblance to the Corona virus, which brought about the outbreak of the SARS pandemic in 2002-2004: SARS-CoV. This new virus from southern China spread within almost a few weeks to almost every continent. Worldwide, 8,096 people became ill – tested – and 774 people died of severe respiratory disease syndrome. Although the numbers compared to the current pandemic were much lower, the then pandemic showed how terribly fast a contagious disease spreads in a globalized world.
Where was the virus first discovered?
Some studies provide data, that the virus had spread a few weeks, maybe even a few months ago, well before it was discovered in December in Wuhan. In China, according to the South China Morning Post, there was a first infection tested with SARS CoV-2 in mid-November. This does not necessarily mean that this infection also originates in China. Cambridge University researchers had published in April 2020 a study, according to which the pandemic most likely started between September and early December 2019, either in China or in a border country. (https://www.pnas.org/content/117/17/9241)
On the other hand traces of the new virus were found in preserved white water samples in Italy and Brazil, which had been taken since December, or in November 2019. In Italy they were even found in the blood tests of a test with participants of lung cancer scanner antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, – blood tests were taken as early as September 2019 and February 2020.
That the virus may have spread as early as the fall of 2019 in Europe and from mid-November in China does not allow accurate conclusions about the origin of the pandemic. It just shows how fast such an aggressive virus can spread in the world.
Which animal does the virus come from?
As the most likely scenario is considered a zoological origin through an intermediate animal. According to the script, one animal had the virus in the beginning and passed it on to another animal. But so far neither a potential animal has been identified as the origin nor the intermediate animal. Also both Corona SARS viruses have not been accurately identified in the animal world. But that both of these Corona viruses are really similar to the Corona viruses found in bats, found in Southeast Asia. The current SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence matches 96.2% of the Corona RaTG13 virus – found in a species of bats. This sounds like a lot, but it is only a first point, because the compatibility of viruses with other animals like pangolins is not less.
Because most people do not have direct contact with bats or pangolins, experts look for mediating animals that have closer contact with humans, such as mink.
Does the virus come from a laboratory?
What is known is that at the Wuhan Institute of Virology he was experimented with the Corona RaTG13 virus and RmYN02, whose genetic sequences are 93.3% consistent with SARS-CoV-2.Current Biology, 2020; DOI: 10.1016 / j.cub.2020.05.023). From this came two scenarios: SARS CoV-2 may have been artificially manufactured as a chemical weapon and / or came out incorrectly due to an accident.
World Health Organization experts call both scenarios “very unlikely.” But they could not be completely convincing, because with their very limited investigations they could not conduct independent inspections or provide evidence, because China did not allow this. Instead they had to get published data and Chinese partner data. Even the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus himself later demanded that at least the hypothesis of a laboratory accident be further investigated.
What about a “biological weapon”?
The artificial production of SARS-CoV-2 in a laboratory in Wuhan is considered by many to be very unlikely. So a team of microbiology professor Kristian Andersen from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, researched the Spike protein on the surface of the virus. In the genome segment, two major differences were seen between SARS-CoV-2 and similar Corona viruses. . The protein has a different structure, it is true that the virus can penetrate human cells faster, but to be a “biological weapon” the structure of the virus, according to these experts in La Jolla is not sufficiently refined.
Laboratory accident?
The theory remains that Chinese researchers have experimented with dangerous Corona viruses such as. RaTG13 or RmYN02, and that SARS CoV-2 accidentally left the laboratory due to an accident. The Chinese leadership categorically rejects this theory.
WHO experts also see this as very unlikely based on the data provided to them. Against this speaks the evolution of the virus, and the other, the Wuhan Institute for Virology has high security laboratories. In the data provided there is no sign of laboratory accident or illness of employees.
Exactly this point does not coincide with what the “Wall Street Journal” published referring to the secret services, where three employees in November 2019 showed symptoms close to Covid. China denies this as well.
So far there are assumptions instead of facts and rejections instead of transparency – it remains open, if someday we will know where this world pandemic originated. And especially how not to allow other pandemics to spread.