This archive report was first published on 10 July 2021.
July 10, 2021 - A group of international scientists have reaffirmed that COVID-19 originated in nature, citing recent peer-reviewed studies that strongly suggest this conclusion.
According to a letter published in The Lancet medical journal, 24 physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, virologists, biologists, ecologists, and public health experts from around the world dismissed the lab-leak idea, stating that it remains without scientifically validated evidence.
The scientists, who had previously written in a letter in February 2020, reaffirmed their expression of solidarity with those in China who confronted the outbreak then, and the many health professionals around the world who have since worked to exhaustion, and at personal risk, in the relentless and continuing battle against this virus.
They noted that their original letter was also intended to express their working view that SARS-CoV-2 'most likely' originated in nature and not in a laboratory, based on early genetic analysis of the new virus and 'well-established evidence' from previous emerging infectious diseases.
As of Tuesday, the world has reported more than 183.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases, with the COVID-19 death toll nearing 4 million, according to the World Health Organization statistics.
The scientists also stated that allegations and conjecture are of no help, as they do not facilitate access to information and objective assessment of the pathway from a bat virus to a human pathogen that might help to prevent a future pandemic.
