[Op-Ed] The Origin of COVID-19: Obscuring Truth and Science

The origin of the coronavirus pandemic has been disputed throughout the past several years. Source: Johns Hopkins

Misinformation and mistrust have shrouded the origin of COVID-19 since early 2020. The lack of clear communication from the Chinese government and immediate conspiracies created by US politicians wreaked havoc on the truth in such a short period of time that the scientific community had no time to proceed with a neutral and objective scientific inquiry. Yet, with the recent resurfacing of more information, an unbiased conclusion seems more likely than ever. 

There are two contested theories to explain the pandemic. One is the natural origin theory, which hypothesizes that the virus mutated and jumped from humans to animals. This is quite plausible as there is illegal trading at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, where the first cases were documented. The second theory is the lab-leak theory, which suggests that the virus came from a lab in Wuhan that was studying viruses. In the lab-leak theory, there are two factions. Those believing in science, that because there was a lab there studying viruses, it is possible for it to have originated from this lab. The other side is rooted in conspiracy, stating, with no evidence, that China may have leaked this on purpose or had been developing it as a bioweapon. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, the lab-leak theory was not given much credit due to its quick transformation into a politicized weapon and the conspiracies related to it. Donald Trump began spewing unconfirmed lies, calling the coronavirus the “Chinese virus,” placing all blame on China, and even going as far as accusing the Chinese government of releasing the virus on purpose. In return, China refused any responsibility, didn’t disclose any information or let scientists in to investigate, and baselessly claimed the virus originated in Frederick, Maryland. None of this helped foster trust in any government or governmental agencies, and eventually, this suspicion bled into research.

 Scientists began to steer away from the lab-leak theory, fearing their work would be undermined by falsities, and fearing the spread of the lab-leak theory might be used against laboratory research to implement more regulations and restrict scientific advancement. As science is a “vested industry” no one wanted to be the person who came out and vilified scientists or the industry. Thus, the lab-leak theory became entrenched with disinformation, xenophobia, and fear, and was not properly investigated. 

Despite this, researchers did continue to examine the origins of the pandemic, with a need for understanding borne from how this ended up causing around 7 million deaths worldwide, with 1.1 million in the US alone. Being able to find the origin could save countless future lives, and enable scientists to figure out how to study and track viruses in nature to prevent the next pandemic, or it could help countries advance lab safety. 

Thus, more than three years after the outbreak, the US Department of Energy finally released a report saying that, with “low confidence,” the coronavirus came from a lab, and the FBI backed up this determination with a “moderate level of confidence.” With a new administration in US politics, researching the lab-leak theory wasn’t seen as a diplomatic weapon against China, it was instead a necessary step in the crucial investigation of the pandemic. While four other US agencies have come to the conclusion that the natural origin theory is most likely and two other agencies are still undecided, these reignited the fight over the pandemic origin and reignited the finger-pointing between countries. Right-wing politicians seized the opportunity to paint China as the “bad guy,” especially when other economic and political tensions with the other global superpower are reaching new highs. This led to a congressional hearing which ended with no conclusion either way. 

Just three weeks after these reports from the US were released, there was evidence found that links the virus to the market and the natural origin theory. On Mar. 4, 2023, Florence Débarre, a French evolutionary biologist, found samples of the virus on data uploaded by a Chinese scientist, Gao, on the international scientific website GISAID, which allows researchers to share genetic data in the study and tracking of viruses. These samples were taken in June 2022 from a cage that housed a variety of animals in the market, most notably including raccoon dogs, who are known to have a risk of being infected by coronaviruses. With this, there is conclusive evidence of animals with the virus without humans present, thus disconnecting the possibility of humans bringing the virus to the market first. Débarre’s findings contradicted all that was just released from the US, and furthered the heated debate. 

Raccoon dog, a likely suspect for how the coronavirus spread to humans. Source: BBC

Only days after Florence Débarre published her findings, the data went missing on GISAID. Chinese officials stated that the Chinese team had been working on a paper of those findings and that Débarre had unfairly “scooped” the findings. Nonetheless, this incident only increased mistrust between countries and scientists, as many became weary as to why the findings hadn’t been reported earlier. While this did increase the skepticism of the Chinese government, Débarre’s findings seem to provide the most conclusive evidence uncovered so far for the natural origin theory, possibly leading to the end of this drawn-out debate. 

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally shifted many aspects of the world. Already, there have been improvements and adjustments made in healthcare systems worldwide, from better funding to better resiliency. Yet, there are many other changes that need to be implemented as we continue to exit from the pandemic era. Depending on the conclusion to the COVID-19 origin debate, leaders will need to decide which regulations might need to be increased, whether that is on live animal markets or labs. Though, with or without regulations, the pandemic has also taught us we must invest more in the research of viruses: how they are transferred, being able to track them, and how to prevent them from species jumping. 

Regardless of whether COVID-19 came from a lab or from raccoon dogs, the international community’s attempt to find the answer has been a failure. The lack of trust and objectivity in conducting scientific research has obscured the truth for over three years. In the United States alone, there are eight governmental agencies working on finding a solution, and yet they are divided and not working together highlighting a disjointed process. Instead of enforcing a priority of truth and discovery, the origin of COVID-19 has been molded into a tool used to bitterly blame others, both in Washington and in Beijing. We have learned the essential role science plays in our world, and the divisive part politics can play. When scientists have the time and resources, they are able to produce miracles, like developing the coronavirus vaccine, and when they are inhibited by biases and lies, nothing will ever become clear. Thus, while we search for a way to prevent the next pandemic, perhaps we should also be looking for a way to protect and exalt truth, honesty, and trust.