Recent evidence points to natural origin of Covid-19, scientists write in Lancet


PTI, Jul 6, 2021, 5:25 PM IST

Credit: iStock Photo

There is no scientifically validated evidence to support the theory that the coronavirus leaked from a laboratory in China, and more recent, peer-reviewed studies strongly suggest that the virus evolved in nature, a group of scientists wrote in The Lancet journal.

The report published on Monday was compiled by two dozen biologists, ecologists, epidemiologists, physicians, public health experts and veterinarians from around the world.

“We believe the strongest clue from new, credible, and peer-reviewed evidence in the scientific literature is that the virus evolved in nature, while suggestions of a laboratory-leak source of the pandemic remain without scientifically validated evidence that directly supports it in peer-reviewed scientific journals,” the authors wrote in the journal.

The same team of scientists had last year dismissed the lab leak idea as a conspiracy theory in a report also published in The Lancet.

The latest report comes as many countries have called for further inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, including the possibility that it escaped from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first cases were reported in December 2019.

“Allegations and conjecture are of no help as they do not facilitate access to information and objective assessment of the pathway from a bat virus to a human pathogen that might help to prevent a future pandemic,” the authors of the report explained.

“New viruses can emerge anywhere… It is time to turn down the heat of the rhetoric and turn up the light of scientific inquiry if we are to be better prepared to stem the next pandemic,” they noted.

The authors of the report, however, said they welcome calls for scientifically rigorous investigations into the origin of the virus.

“To accomplish this, we encourage WHO and scientific partners across the world to expeditiously move to continue and further extend their initial investigation with experts in China and the Chinese Government,” they wrote.

They noted that WHO’s report from March, 2021 must be considered the beginning rather than the end of an inquiry.

That inquiry had concluded that a lab leak was unlikely. However, many countries had expressed concern about the way the investigation was carried out and called for more transparency.

The authors of the Lancet report said they strongly support the call by the Group of Seven (G7) leaders of industrialised nations for “a timely, transparent, expert-led, and science-based WHO-convened phase 2 COVID-19 origins study.”

“We also understand that it might take years of field and laboratory study to assemble and link the data essential to reach rational and objective conclusions, but that is what the global scientific community must strive to do,” they added.

The authors included scientists from Boston University, University of Maryland in the US, the University of Glasgow, The Wellcome Trust, UK, Charite–Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany, and The University of Queensland in Australia among many other global institutes.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

India crawl to 51 for 4 after losing top-order

Nursing student suicide: Three students arrested in Kerala

Nadda’s letter to Kharge full of falsehoods: Cong

10 month baby gets new heart, new life

Actress Kasthuri released from jail, says ‘I thank those who made me raging storm’

Kidnapped for ransom in 1998, 26/11 survivor Gautam Adani faces biggest trial

100 engineering colleges in Karnataka to be ‘adopted’ by corporates by next year: IT Minister Kharge

Related Articles More

India-US ties have strong foundation: White House confident in navigating crisis over Adani bribery charges

PM Modi leaves for home after concluding three-nation visit

China announces new policy measures to protect its exports from Trump’s new tariff threat

Pak government prepares for proposed protest by former PM Imran Khan’s party on Nov 24

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol arrested in US, lodged in Iowa jail

MUST WATCH

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava

Naxal Operation


Latest Additions

Puttur: Private bus crashes into house to avoid collision with school bus

India crawl to 51 for 4 after losing top-order

Mangaluru: POCSO case – Convict sentenced to 20 years in prison

Nursing student suicide: Three students arrested in Kerala

Sampaje: Financial fraud using Google Pay reported

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.