WHO's Science in 5 on COVID-19 - Origins of the SARS CoV-2 virus - 14 January 2021

Summary

In this episode of 'Science in Five,' Dr. Peter Ben Barrick discusses the importance of understanding the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. He highlights three key reasons: preventing future infections, avoiding similar pandemics, and improving treatments and vaccines. Dr. Barrick leads an international mission to investigate the virus's origins in Wuhan, collaborating with experts from various fields. While debunking claims of a lab-made virus, he emphasizes that all possibilities, including lab accidents, are being considered. The investigation remains open and evidence-based, encouraging the public to seek trusted science-driven information.

Takeaways

• 😀 It's important to understand the origin of the COVID-19 virus for three key reasons: to prevent future outbreaks, to reduce similar pandemics, and to improve treatments and vaccines.
• 😀 Identifying the source of the virus could help prevent its reintroduction into the human population.
• 😀 Understanding how COVID-19 jumped from bats to humans could help prevent future pandemics from similar viruses.
• 😀 If the virus's early form can be identified, it could lead to more efficient treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.
• 😀 A mission of 10 international experts is being led to study the origins of the virus in Wuhan, China, with collaboration from Chinese counterparts.
• 😀 The team of experts includes veterinarians, medical doctors, epidemiologists, virologists, and specialists in animal-to-human diseases.
• 😀 The mission will begin with two weeks of quarantine in a hotel where the team will work remotely, followed by face-to-face meetings and site visits.
• 😀 Social media claims about the virus originating in laboratories are considered by scientists but are not supported by evidence or genetic makeup of the virus.
• 😀 Scientific tools allow researchers to analyze the genetic makeup of COVID-19, and there is no evidence suggesting the virus was manufactured.
• 😀 Laboratory accidents are a known risk, but there is currently no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 escaped from a lab.
• 😀 The scientific investigation will consider multiple hypotheses, including the possibility of a laboratory origin, even though it's deemed unlikely.

Q & A

Why is it important to understand the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus?

Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for three main reasons: 1) To prevent future reintroduction of the virus into the human population if the source is still out there; 2) To understand how the virus jumped from animals to humans and potentially prevent similar pandemics in the future; 3) To study how the virus looked before it entered humans, which could help in developing more effective treatments and vaccines.

What is the main goal of the mission led by Dr. Peter Ben Barrick?

The mission, led by Dr. Peter Ben Barrick, aims to study the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The team, consisting of 10 international experts, will collaborate with Chinese counterparts to conduct research in Wuhan, exploring various aspects of the virus's origin and studying the relevant sites and areas.

What types of experts are included in the mission to study the origins of the virus?

The mission team includes a diverse group of experts such as veterinarians, medical doctors, epidemiologists, virologists, and experts in zoonotic diseases, who specialize in studying viruses that jump from animals to humans.

What will the team do during their two-week quarantine in Wuhan?

During the two-week quarantine in Wuhan, the team will stay in their individual rooms without leaving, but they will still work remotely, conducting research and planning for the second phase of the mission.

What are the plans for the team after their quarantine period ends?

Once the quarantine period ends, the team will be able to move around Wuhan, hold face-to-face meetings, and visit various sites related to their research, continuing their studies on the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

How do scientists view the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 originated in a laboratory?

While laboratory accidents are a possibility, there is no evidence to support the claim that SARS-CoV-2 was manufactured or escaped from a lab. The virus’s genetic makeup shows it is a natural virus, and similar viruses have been observed in the past, making it more likely to be of natural origin.

What is the likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 is a result of a laboratory accident?

Although laboratory accidents have occurred in the past, the chances of SARS-CoV-2 being a result of such an accident are considered remote. There is currently no evidence to indicate that the virus was being studied or manipulated in a laboratory before the outbreak.

How are scientists using genetic tools to study the virus's origin?

Scientists use advanced genetic analysis tools to study the virus's genetic makeup. These tools help identify the virus’s natural origins and provide insights into how it evolved before making the jump to humans.

What kind of information do scientists hope to gain by studying the virus’s pre-human form?

By studying the virus before it entered humans, scientists aim to understand its genetic makeup and how it functioned in its animal hosts. This knowledge could help develop better treatments and vaccines and prevent future pandemics.

Why is it important to involve Chinese counterparts in the mission to study the virus's origin?

Involving Chinese counterparts is critical because the research is taking place in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak began. Collaborating with local experts ensures access to relevant sites, data, and resources that are essential for understanding the virus's origins.