A member of the WHO team investigating the origin of the pandemic estimated that collective scientific research could potentially determine how animals infected the first humans in Wuhan.
Published: March 11, 2021 8:26 AM |
Last updated: March 11, 2021 8:46 am
| AA A-
LONDON: The world community will find out « pretty soon, over the next few years, » what started the coronavirus pandemic, a key member of a World Health Organization-led investigation into the origins of the pandemic said Wednesday. In a press conference organized by the Chatham House think tank in London, Peter Daszak estimated that collective scientific research could potentially determine how animals carrying COVID-19 infected the first people in Wuhan identified last December « There was a link from Wuhan to the provinces in southern China, where the bats find the closest related virus (the coronavirus), » said Daszak, president of the New York-based group EcoHealth Alliance. He said the wildlife trafficking was the most likely explanation for how COVID-19 arrived in Wuhan, where the first human cases were discovered.
That hypothesis, Daszak said, is « the one supported by both the WHO ( as well as from the Chinese side) is most strongly supported « . Daszak and his co-authors will be releasing a report on the initial conclusions of their recent mission to Wuhan as early as next week.
« I am convinced that we will find out pretty soon in the next few years, » said Daszak of the origins of the outbreak. « We can have really important data about where it came from and how it came about. »
It usually takes many years to locate the animal reservoir for outbreaks. Although Ebola first made people sick in 1976 and is believed to originate from bats, the live virus in them has never been identified.
Marion Koopmans, who was also a member of the WHO-led team, said she have considered numerous hypotheses for the start of the pandemic, including the possibility of a laboratory accident.
Koopmans said the team visited the three laboratories closest to the Huanan market in Wuhan, where the first group is human Cases were found, and their protocols, testing programs, and research findings, among other things, were reviewed.
Koopmans also said she and her colleagues had checked genetic sequencing data for the possibility that the virus had been spread through tainted packaging on frozen seafood could be a theory that has been rejected by most scientists.
« We cannot rule it out completely en, « she said, noting that on a global level it was very difficult to determine whether COVID-19 cases were caused by the very remote possibility of a still infectious virus on the packaging or by epidemics in almost every country in the world / p> Daszak said the scientific mission had unfortunately been tarnished by politics. The WHO-led mission was delayed for months and the United States health department was accused of helping China cover up the scale of the COVID-19 outbreak in its early stages by former US President Donald Trump and others. As with all WHO missions, the team members and the itinerary had to be approved by China.
Disclaimer: We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be sensible as we moderate your comments. All comments are moderated by the editorial newindianexpress.com. Refrain from posting obscene, defamatory or inflammatory comments and do not indulge in personal attacks. Avoid external hyperlinks within the comment. Help us delete comments that do not comply with these guidelines.
The views expressed in comments posted on newindianexpress.com are those of the commenters alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its employees, nor do they represent the views or opinions of the New Indian Express Group or any of the New Indian Express Group companies or any of their affiliates. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to record some or all of the comments at any time.
Kerala Class X, XII Board exams postponed, will now take place April 8-30.
Prince William speaks out Meghan Markle’s interview and denies that the British royal family is « racist ».
The morning standard | Dinamani | Kannada Prabha | Samakalika Malayalam | Pampering | Edex Live | Cinema Express | Event Xpress
Contact us | About us | Career | Privacy Policy | Search | Terms of Use | Advertise with us
Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday standard
Ref: https://www.newindianexpress.com
