Five years later, the National Academy of Medicine offers the results of its knowledge of the origins of COVID-19. This Wednesday, April 2, on Wednesday, on the occasion of a press conference, the organization shared the conclusions of a report dedicated to the end of in -depth investigation.
“Five years after the beginning of the pandemic, the origin of the virus remains an enigma. The hypothesis of the natural origin remains opposite to that of a modified virus that would have escaped from the Wuhan laboratory in China, a laboratory specialized in research on Coronavirus,” said a member of the academy in the preamble.
There is no thunderous announcement in the line lines. No clear evidence may make it possible to exclude one of the hypotheses or certify the veracity of the other. But in the current state of our knowledge, more elements support the thesis of an accident, a laboratory leak, while Wuhan’s laboratory could carry out the genetic virus.
“There are more arguments for the second hypothesis (of human origin, note of the editor) than the first,” said Christine Rouzioux along with Jean-François Delfraissy (president of the National Advisory Committee of Ethics) and Patrick Berche, Biologist specialized in laboratory leaks, adding:
“The United States carried out several surveys. They showed an important point: the experiences of integration of sequences in virus were the subject of a research program (…) The work had already begun in Wuhan.”
“Those who support the accident thesis are not conspirators”
This hypothesis is also the favorite for American intelligence services, with a geopolitical context that also makes it possible to question this positioning, particularly against China. The country of Asia for its part said in response to the CIA that this idea was “extremely unlikely.”
“Those who support the accident thesis are not conspiracies. They only look for the truth, there have been millions of deaths, you must have answers,” said Patrick Berche. “These accidents are not frequent but there are.”
But what are these clues that can support the idea of an accident? “A package of facts and arguments” stands out, including the existence of this research. But also a list of previous incidents that occurred within the laboratory.
For example, in September 2019, failed incidents affected personnel members before developing pneumonia. The analysis tubes “have been thrown” specify the academy, which indicates that, therefore, it is not possible to determine the exact nature of the infection.
This hypothesis is also reinforced by inconsistencies in the first theory, that of a natural appearance. The virus, which would have passed through several animals hosts before reaching humans, would only have a limited number of accumulated mutations. However, multiple passages would have involved these changes.
A CNRS study published in September 2024 was able to determine that the SARS-COV-2 for the first time crossed the species barrier to infect humans in November 2019. The animal that would have transmitted to us this virus belongs to a restricted list: the civet, the bamboo rat, the Porcepic and the Viverrin dog or the “Buga dog.”
This study also indirectly indicated towards a probable natural origin of the virus, as explained in BFMTV.com the virologist Bruno Lina: “We see that we have all the elements that reinforce the fact that it is a natural appearance of the virus” transmitted from the animal to humans without voluntary or involuntary intervention.
Recommendations issued by the Academy in the light of these reflections
Human intervention or a terrible natural chain, the Academy of Medicine is careful not to decide formally. But from your research, new recommendations are born after the discovery of fears on which economic research could cause.
The objective now is to raise awareness among scientific and technological establishments on the dangers posed by their work, while new tools such as artificial intelligence could offer opportunities and threats. “Some researchers are not aware of the risks. There may be handling accidents even in exemplary conditions,” said Christine Rouzioux.
Creation of black boxes to maintain confidential data, strengthen information exchanges, accentuate virus circulation monitoring levels … The National Academy of Medicine advises the implementation of safeguards.
“In 2020 we were not ready. From now on, the question is not whether a new pandemic can occur. But when?”, Cuts the virologist, five years after a health crisis has put the world arrested.
Source: BFM TV
