New theories call for global origin- tracing effort
▶ COVID may have coexisted in multiple places before Wuhan: expert
While the WHO has indicated there may be more than one patient zeroes as coronavirus has been identified in many different countries and said they plan to send experts to China to investigate the virus origin, Chinese experts noted that the virus origin has become a problem requiring global cooperation as multiple theories pointed to the need for global efforts to solve the puzzle.
They said that as the epidemic in more and more countries has subsided, it is time to call on more epidemic- stricken nations to participate in and face up to the scientific question.
In response to a question about the WHO experts traveling to China soon for work related to COVID- 19 origins,
Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that since COVID- 19 broke out, China and WHO have been in communication and cooperation on the origin tracing of the virus. While tracing the origin domestically, China has been earnestly implementing WHO resolutions.
“We are the first to invite WHO experts in for origintracing cooperation.” Zhao said, adding that “We hope all relevant countries will adopt a positive attitude and cooperate with WHO like China does.”
The remarks came at a time when more evidence points to the existence of the virus long before the Wuhan outbreak. WHO experts also hinted that there are more than one patient zeroes.
There may be more than one cases of patient zero in some situations, because there may be more than one species breach. We’re increasingly seeing that viruses have been identified in many different countries, Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergencies expert said at a Monday press briefing.
In March and summer, the origin tracing of the virus was focused on China, but more and more evidence suggested that more professionals are beginning to realize that Wuhan is the place the disease was first identified, but probably not the place where the virus originated from, Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
China’s mechanism of detecting pneumonia for unknown reasons helped Wuhan identify the new infectious disease and virus. But the fact that it can sweep the world in such a short term is a strong indication that the novel coronavirus may have existed in multiple places for uncertain periods of time, Zeng said.
“When and where did the virus start circulating? Tracing the virus cannot answer all questions, but it is very likely that the virus had co- existed in multiple places before being spotted in Wuhan,” he noted.
Amid continuous reports of infections related to international cold- chain deliveries, some top Chinese experts have also suggested that the possibility cannot be ruled out that the Wuhan outbreak was also caused by international coldchain deliveries.
“Those academic studies should be part of seeking virus origins. If we could combine the efforts of scientists across these countries and call on them to participate in the scientific investigation, we might be much closer to the virus’ origin,” said Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital.
Tracing the virus cannot answer all questions, but it is very likely that the virus had co- existed in multiple places before being spotted in Wuhan