China’s secrecy, delay in reporting the outbreak in Wuhan, reluctance to allow quick and free access to the WHO team investigating virus origin, and the delay in finding the natural host or the intermediary has further fuelled the lab spillover hypothesis even in the absence of any compelling evidence. Over 17 months after the World … Continue reading Even as lab leak hypothesis is based on conjectures, it needs to be investigated
Bats
Explained: Probing the origin of SARS-CoV-2 virus
The WHO fact-finding team had initially rejected the possibility of a lab-leak saying it is “extremely unlikely” and that further investigation into it was not required. However, at a press briefing on February 12, the WHO Chief Tedros A Ghebreyesus appeared to backpaddle saying that on discussing with a few team members “all hypotheses [including … Continue reading Explained: Probing the origin of SARS-CoV-2 virus
Conspiracy theories about SARS-CoV-2 virus origin put to rest
In contrast to a lab-origin, the investigation by the WHO team now strongly suggests virus origin to a natural reservoir in bats, but unlikely to have been in Wuhan. The virus jumping directly from bats to humans is highly unlikely and initial investigation too suggests the introduction into humans through an intermediary host species. By … Continue reading Conspiracy theories about SARS-CoV-2 virus origin put to rest
Novel coronavirus lineage circulated unnoticed in bats for decades, study says
SARS-CoV-2 virus diverged from closely related bat viruses 40-70 years ago. Novel coronavirus had not arisen from recombination of any sarbecoviruses, and the ability of the spike protein in the virus to bind to ACE2 human receptors had emerged within bats. There is no evidence that pangolins facilitated adaptation to humans by being an intermediate … Continue reading Novel coronavirus lineage circulated unnoticed in bats for decades, study says
How bats harbour several viruses yet not get sick
Bats serve as natural hosts for numerous viruses including Ebola virus, Nipah virus, SARS, MERS and the novel coronavirus. Yet, the viruses even when present in large numbers do not cause any harmful effects. Reason: bats avoid excessive virus-induced inflammation. Bats serve as natural hosts for numerous viruses including Ebola virus, Nipah virus, coronoviruses such … Continue reading How bats harbour several viruses yet not get sick
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