Thought of the Day - April 2 2021 - The Origin Report Arrives

The WHO finally produced their written report concerning the investigation of the origins of the pandemic virus. The report comes:

• sixteen months after the start of the major outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan,

• ten months after the World Health Assembly called upon the WHO to take on this work,

• eight months since the WHO first sent a task force to China to plan the plan ( Thought of the Day - January 8 - Nothing To See Here ).

The report, while over 300 pages long, adds little to the initial findings briefing from back at the beginning of February, when the only new finding was that COVID can spread through the food 'cold chain' ( Thought of the Day - February 10 - COVID Can Spread Through Frozen Food ).

Reading through the report the only thing I spotted, that I am not sure was mentioned at the briefing, was the report recommendation: "Consideration should be given to further joint review of the data on respiratory illness from the on-site clinics at the Military Games in October 2019." There have been suggestions that this may be the first 'super-spreader' event in China (10,000 athletes from over 100 countries), and also the jumping-off point to infection in other countries; well in advance of the Wuhan market cluster.

Thus, the main 'news' concerning the report is really the reaction to the report.

First, Dr. Tedros, who has received a fair amount of criticism on the WHO's passive role in the handling of the pandemic including this work, stated:

• "As far as the WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table. We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do.

• The team also visited several laboratories in Wuhan and considered the possibility that the virus entered the human population as a result of a laboratory incident. However, I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough. Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions."

You have to remember that the team was provided a 'going-in' assumption that the virus was zoonotic in nature (came from animals), thus their mandate was to identify the zoonotic source and thus a 'lab hypothesis' was not investigated in any serious manner.

The former US CDC head Robert Redfield is quoted as saying:

• "I do not believe this somehow came from a bat to a human.

• I still think the most likely etiology of this pathogen in Wuhan was from a laboratory, escaped.

• I am not implying any intentionality. But I am a virologist. I have spent my life in virology."

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said in a briefing: "When will the WHO experts be invited to the US for a visit on origin-tracing?" referring to access to a US military lab where Chinese officials have suggested the virus may have originated.

I am sure there is much more to come on this story. But sad to say we really have nothing more yet.

Cheers

Cliff