SCIO press conference on China's study of origins of SARS-CoV-2
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 14, 2023
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Shen. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media organization you work for before asking your questions.
Global Times:
Some WHO officials believe the Chinese government has not been open and transparent in providing COVID-19-related data, affecting global origin tracing. What are your comments on this? What difficulties have you encountered in origin tracing? Thank you.
Shen Hongbing:
Thank you for your questions. I would like to invite Ms. Zhou to answer your questions.
Zhou Lei:
Thank you for your questions. We have also noticed the situation you mentioned. To be honest, as a Chinese scientist who participated in person in the first phase of the joint origin tracing studies, I was surprised to hear such words. In fact, when we were in Wuhan, we collaborated with both domestic and foreign scientists as part of the joint expert team to conduct origin-tracing together. During this process, Chinese scientists adhered to the principles of being scientific, open, objective and transparent and shared all available data and materials. This included early case information and the case data of over 76,000 individuals who were suspected of having possibly been infected by COVID-19 during the early stages in Wuhan. We shared and conducted an in-depth joint analysis and study of these data and materials, and the results were collectively confirmed by the experts at that time.
In addition, we conducted antibody or nucleic acid testing on over 38,000 poultry and livestock samples and more than 41,000 wild animal samples collected within China's borders from 2018 to 2020, yet no positive results were found. We also conducted origin-tracing investigations on the upstream and downstream supply chains of all animal products at the Huanan Seafood Market during that time and found no evidence suggesting that the virus spread among animals. These results were shared at that time with the international expert team selected by the WHO and were acknowledged by them.
During the first phase of the joint studies of the origins, we followed a scientific and comprehensive approach, considering the possibility of a lab leak when planning our study. To investigate this possibility, while in Wuhan, we organized the joint expert team to conduct field research, investigations and studies at multiple local laboratories and engaged in in-depth exchanges. We also investigated and analyzed all health monitoring materials, as well as possible treatment and clinical materials of staff members and students studying at the labs during that period. Therefore, taking all aspects into consideration, we fully shared our research findings and data without any concealment or reservation during the first phase of the joint origin tracing studies.
We know that there's a certain degree of difficulty in conducting scientific research, especially virus origin tracing studies. In the past, we have encountered multiple newly emerging infectious diseases, such as HIV (AIDS), for which we only detected and gained some clues and understanding about its origin over a decade after it was first identified. This also applies to Ebola, whose origin has remained unclear since its emergence in the 1970s. It has only been three years since the outbreak of COVID-19, so we still have a long way to go. Origin tracing research results for many diseases have shown that the place where the epidemic first began does not necessarily equal the place of the pandemic's origin. Therefore, we should maintain a scientific approach. More importantly, SARS-CoV-2 origin tracing requires scientists worldwide to collaborate based on a fully objective and scientific attitude.
The WHO is highly important as an authoritative professional organization recognized by the international community and its scientific, rigorous, and impartial nature is beyond question. However, I think the recent denial of research results by certain WHO officials, particularly regarding the results of our first phase of joint studies on origins, may damage the credibility of the WHO. So, this is our perspective of and opinion on the overall studies of the origins. Thank you.
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