It has been more than a year and a half since the first coronavirus case appeared in Wuhan, China. Weeks after the incident, a controversial theory emerged, suspecting that this disease leaked from the Wuhan laboratory of virology, which had been studying bats for decades. This would also explain the cluster of infections on the Huanan wet market, as it is a mere 40-minute drive away.
Nowadays, the question of whether this is a viable option or just Trump’s ‘crazy right-wing attack’ has re-surged after president Biden called US agencies to ‘step up efforts to determine Covid-19 origins’. Whilst thousands of foreign politicians and doctors such as Anthony Fauci, approve this probe, other nations disagree.
The China-World Health Organization joint study published in March said this theory is ‘extremely unlikely’, believing it most likely ‘originated in the country’s wildlife trade, with the virus passing into humans from bats via an intermediary species”. (WHO, March 2020). Joint statements from the US and 13 other nations appeared concerned in regards to the study’s transparency, timeliness and accessibility. Nevertheless, the Chinese centre for disease and control prevention proposed a new probe.
Senior epidemiologist Zeng Guang affirms the next phase of investigations should shift to the US, arguments a study published last week by the US national institute of health showcased the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that caused Covid-19) in at least 7 people in 5 different states. He also told state-owned “Global Times” that Americans only reported their first official cases weeks after due to their slow testing at early stages. Guang also highlighted the existence of many biological laboratories in the nation, implying ‘all bio-weapons related subjects (...) should be subject to scrutiny.’
This conflict has arisen lots of political tension, and to the moment, there is no undeniable fact that proves one location as the culprit. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijan believed it’s ‘obvious this outbreak had multiple origins’, which at the time, seems like the most viable option;
Beijing stands by the theory it entered China overseas by contaminated frozen food, the US remarked the leaked laboratory theory as ‘plausible’ in a report on 2019, and China stands for shifting the probe towards Americans and desires more cooperation with WHO.
Similarly, other studies suspect its origins in Europe as early as September, and even MERS-related Covid-19 has been found in lab studies from the University of Zurich and the Bat Foundation in Switzerland who studied MERS-CoV (virus behind the middle east respiratory syndrome). As to the reason behind the suspicion, Jakub Kubacki, head researcher at the institute’s virology department, replied how
"It will be interesting to study the zoonotic potential of this bat betacoronavirus and to monitor the colony in which it was detected over time as this would allow [us] to assess the accumulation of mutations in the COV genome in a natural reservoir host."
For this hypothesis to be disproved and finally find the true origin will take years, especially if China closes itself on the idea that it did not originate on its territory. After all, this discord could undermine efforts to solve the pandemic, for which a better understanding is important.
All these factors leave the entire world waiting; Will the world ever maintain enough diplomacy to solve the mystery of COVID-19s origin?
Camila. G
Bibliography:
“China Rebuts US' COVID Origin Probe Push: 'Open Fort Detrick & Probe July 2019 Illness'’” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz2A7Bb3Rxo. Accessed 27 June 2021.
“Covid origin: Why the Wuhan lab-leak theory is being taken seriously.” BBC News, 27 May 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57268111.
“COVID-19: China slams Biden's order to intensify probe into virus origins.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxC6k9r_VV8. Accessed 27 June 2021.
Stanway, David. “US Should Be Investigated In Covid Origin Probe, Chinese Expert Says.” Kaiser Health News, 17 June 2021, khn.org/morning-breakout/us-should-be-investigated-in-covid-origin-probe-chinese-expert-says/. Accessed 27 June 2021.
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