On March 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) and China released a joint report on the results of investigating the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing pandemic COVID-19, radio ABC (USA) reported. The report summarizes the results of the survey from January 14 to February 10 by the WHO expert group in China – an effort seen as the first step in the work that could take many years to find the source. COVID-19. Some members of the WHO investigation team (sitting in the car) surveyed at the Wuhan Virus Research Institute on February 3. Photo: REUTERS The report repeated many of the conclusions discussed by the expert group at the end of the mission in China and drew a clearer picture of the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four hypotheses about the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to humans ABC has pointed out four hypotheses about the source of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection to humans are mentioned in a report published by WHO and China on March 30. 1. Is the virus transmitted directly from animals to humans? According to the WHO report, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can or is highly likely to have been transmitted directly from animals (most likely from bats) to humans through farming, hunting or close contact. difference between human and animal. 2. Is the virus transmitted to humans through an vector of an vector? According to WHO, there is a very high possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the original pathogen (bat) has been transmitted through mediators such as weasels, pangolins, rabbits … and humans are infected by exposure to secondary pathogens. this level. 3. Can people get a virus through frozen food products? According to WHO, this could happen. This means that people can become infected when they come into contact with frozen food contaminated with the bio-waste of animals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (without the need to come into contact with the original pathogen). 4. Is there a virus leak from the lab? This so-called “highly political” hypothesis has been repeatedly rejected by experts from China and the WHO. According to the latest WHO report, it is extremely unlikely that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a product from a certain laboratory in China. Although assessing the SARS-CoV-2 virus leak hypothesis from the laboratory as unlikely, WHO Director-General Tedros noted that the experts have considered all the hypotheses and need further research to bring to make more certain conclusions. Hoa Nam Seafood Market is the “super infectious” nest, not the place where the epidemic begins According to WHO data, the first case of COVID-19 infection has been linked to the Hainan Seafood Market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province (China). WHO experts have taken large-scale samples at the Hoa Nam market – including samples from the environment, food and animals in the market. A total of 718 environmental samples were collected at Hoa Nam market and 14 samples were collected from warehouses related to Hoa Nam market. Some samples from the environment showed traces of the nucleic acid of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and some even showed virus isolation results. However, no trace of SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in market animals. Some members of the WHO investigation team came to investigate at Hoa Nam market in late January. Photo: REUTERS Meanwhile, the genomic sequences of several (human) cases related to the region are identical, leading scientists to speculate that the Hoa Nam market is a “super infectious” nest. Along with some analysis of the distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, experts are continuing to examine the possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared in the Hoa Nam market due to frozen products. The way to find the origin of COVID-19 is still very long WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that “this report is a very important start but it is not the end point”. “We have yet to find the origin of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) and we must continue to follow the scientific recommendations and find out all possibilities as we are doing,” Tedros said in press conference on 30-3. Although many argue that the WHO March 30 report is nothing new, Dr. Ian Lipkin – Director of the Center for Infections and Immunology at Columbia University (USA) – describes it as a “extreme report. detailed and complete period “. Mr. Lipkin noted that what the scientists are trying to do is “re-enact events from a year and a half without the complete data and biological samples” so it could take years, or even never before. Now, find the exact conclusion. However, Mr. Lipkin reiterated that before the WHO expert group came to China, several routes of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus were envisioned and the WHO report provided possible data. prove those hypotheses. Meanwhile, Professor Vincent Racaniello – an expert in microbiology and immunology also at Columbia University – said that scientists were “lucky” to find clues about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Mr. Racaniello reiterated that after many years, scientists have yet to find the origin of the Ebola virus.

The WHO report on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic is still not clear enough. (Source: You Gov) The report was made by a group of 34 people made up of Chinese scientists and international experts who were sent to Wuhan, China to investigate a series of politically controversial questions, such as whether the virus could unintentionally emerge from a Chinese laboratory or not. Here are the key takeaways from this report. The results are not satisfactory However, the results of the report do not seem to satisfy much of the world, raising even more doubts. First, there is concern among experts about China refusing to share original data about the first Covid-19 cases. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged those concerns when he released the report on March 30. Mr. Tedros also criticized China for not releasing sufficient data to international experts. Second, for experts, this survey is still limited and has not yielded results that make them satisfied. WHO working group leader to Wuhan, PhD. The experts have only just touched the surface of things and will need a lot more research, says Ben Embarek. This expert noted, the time of discovery of the first cases in December 2019 with all cases worsening. As a result, cases of mild or asymptomatic symptoms may have already appeared in the community. According to Mr. Embarek, Wuhan is one of the central cities of China with direct flights to almost all parts of the world. As a result, the virus could have been quietly moving around the world a few months earlier. Mr. Tedros himself hopes that future studies will be “shared more in a timely and comprehensive manner.” The Wuhan Virus Research Institute, which allegedly leaked the SARS-CoV-2 virus to the world. (Source: AFP) Rebuttal of the laboratory hypothesis For months, scientists, politicians and people outside of China have hypothesized that the virus could have been an accident from a laboratory in China. While there are conflicting opinions on the above hypothesis, they still urge WHO to strictly investigate this possibility. The report has completely rejected the theory of the virus being leaked from the lab and argues that this is “very unlikely”. Experts are mainly based on conversations with scientists in Wuhan. But the WHO Director-General unexpectedly aroused skepticism, saying that this theory needed further investigation and that he was ready to deploy more experts to do so. “I do not believe this assessment is wide enough. We will need more data and more research to come to more certain conclusions” – Mr. Tedros said at the press conference on 30/3. Experts at the Wuhan Virus Research Institute say they have not dealt with any viruses that are closely related to the corona virus that caused this pandemic and say that the staff has been trained on how to ensure that safety. Some critics claim that the WHO investigation team is “controlled” by China and has undergone an investigation of the laboratory in Wuhan. Raina MacIntyre, head of the biosecurity program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales, Australia, expressed skepticism about the results of the investigation: “There is definitely a possibility of an accident in the laboratory. ” The role of Wuhan Seafood Market The team concluded that the corona virus could appear in bats before being spread to humans through an intermediate animal. But the team said there was not enough evidence to determine the spread of the virus from animals. In the early part of the pandemic, Chinese officials theorized that the corona virus outbreak could have originated in the South China seafood market. It was reported more than a year later that the role of animal markets in the story of the pandemic remains unclear. The team of experts, after studying the reports of the vendors at this market, found that many initial infections had absolutely no clear association with Hoa Nam market. A market in Wuhan city. (Source: New York Times) According to the report, of the initial confirmed cases, about 28% were linked to the Huanan market and 23% were linked to other markets in Wuhan, while 45% had no further history. contact with markets. “There are no definitive conclusions about Hoa Nam’s role in the cause of the outbreak, or the cause of the spread of the virus in the markets,” the report said. The report also points out that more in-depth studies on Chinese farms and wildlife are needed, as the truth about the role of markets during the pandemic may be unraveled. Depends on China The team of experts made a long list of recommendations for additional research such as: more testing on wildlife and domestic animals in China and Southeast Asia; further study of the first Covid-19 infections; and continues to hunt down all routes of infection from farms to markets in Wuhan. But it is not clear whether China, which has repeatedly obstructed the WHO investigation, will continue to cooperate. Chinese officials have sought to divert attention to another matter, suggesting that the virus may have appeared in the US or in other countries. The delay in the investigation has affected its ability to prevent further pandemics from happening in the future, experts say. Michael Baker, professor of public health at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said: “This delay has clearly damaged the investigation’s ability to recreate the origins of Covid-19 and identifying ways to reduce future risk of infection. (According to the New York Times)