Three Major Breakthroughs on the Origin of Covid
The scientists looking for the true origin of the Wuhan flu are excited about three major developments over the last few weeks. Let me list them here.
New Bat Virus Close to SARS-CoV-2
A new bat coronavirus is recently discovered in Laos, and it is much closer to SARS-CoV-2 than RaTG13. That would provide further support for natural origin of SARS-CoV-2, except for one big problem. This bat coronavirus also does not have the furin cleavage site. Remember that the furin cleavage site is a short insertion in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that makes it more infectious to the humans. This insertion has not been found in any natural SARS-like coronavirus so far.
When and how did this virus make a large insertion of furin cleavage site in its spike protein?
Peter Daszak Proposed to Add Furin Cleavage Site in DoD Grant
A grant application submitted to DoD by Eco Health Alliance proposed to add furin cleavage sites to natural viruses to make them more infectious to humans. The grant did not get funded by DoD, but it is conceivable that they continued to do similar experiments with funds from Fauci.
Wuhan lab connection of Lancet Authors
In March 2020, a group of researchers published a “[Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19]”(https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30418-9/fulltext) in Lancet. Rather than expressing support, the main goal of their letter was to deflect all investigations on where the virus came from.
The rapid, open, and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumours and misinformation around its origins. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens. This is further supported by a letter from the presidents of the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine13 and by the scientific communities they represent. Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus. We support the call from the Director-General of WHO to promote scientific evidence and unity over misinformation and conjecture.14 We want you, the science and health professionals of China, to know that we stand with you in your fight against this virus.
UK’s Telegraph reports that 26 out of 27 of those scientists had significant ties with Wuhan Institute of Virology. If you do not subscribe to Telegraph, you can find the details here.
