Created in a laboratory in China

It has never been possible to conclude how the coronavirus originated, but most researchers point to two different theories:

1: The SARS2 virus accidentally infected one or more employees at the Institute of Virology in Wuhan. It is believed that researchers in the laboratory partially created the virus in order to study epidemics.

2: The zoonotic theory, which is that the virus originates from wet markets in Wuhan – and that humans became infected through animals that carried the virus.

– Infectious diseases in the laboratory

Norwegian researcher Sigrid Bratley believes that the most likely theory is the first, although she is clear that it is too early to draw a specific conclusion.

Pratley is a trained molecular biologist, and was awarded the King's Gold Medal for her PhD in 2015. Last year she won the Natural Sciences Prize for her work in spreading knowledge and creating public debate about how genetic technology can be used in medicine and food production.

She also works as a special advisor to the Norwegian Cancer Society, where she addresses topics and policies related to genetic technology and health.

– She believes that an infection incident in a research laboratory in Wuhan was the beginning of the Corona pandemic, and not a natural infection from animals in the nearby wet market.

In new NBPublished at research center Langsikt, Pratley points to a number of circumstances that suggest the virus was created by humans in a laboratory.

Among other things, there are significant weaknesses in the academic basis of zoonotic disease theory and the problematic handling of science in this context. Furthermore, the virus has a number of characteristics that suggest it may have been manipulated, which is supported by the USA's nationally leading expert environment analyses, she says.

She assured Dagbladet that there was no indication that the epidemic was a deliberate act.

Covid study raises eyebrows: – Mystery

I don't think we'll ever find out

Assistant Director of Health Espen Rostrup Nakstad doesn't think we'll get the facts about what caused the outbreak in Wuhan in 2019.

– The information available is simply not enough for this. But I agree that it is not possible to conclude with certainty what caused the outbreak, says Dagbladet.

Based on statements by the World Health Organization and other reports and research articles, Nakstad believes that the two theories mentioned appear to be the most likely causes.

“We know that less serious laboratory accidents happen from time to time in all countries, but what is more likely in this particular case is still very uncertain, unfortunately,” he says.

Many of the Corona questions were labeled conspiratorial early on. Pratley now believes that it is time to talk about the matter in a sober and objective way in order to find answers to how the epidemic started – especially regarding preparing for a future epidemic.

The theories were deliberately described as conspiratorial, which I later realized. Perhaps this was so politically unpleasant that if there were any consistency in the theory – which I believe there is – the repercussions would be so great that there would be no desire for more thorough investigations.

Describing the case as conspiratorial makes it politically inedible. If there is suspicion of cover-up and fraudulent behavior, it should be thoroughly investigated.

– Not long until next time

– Security is very bad

Pratley points to the inflammatory geopolitical relationship between the United States and China, and the latter's interest in being “innocent” of the pandemic, as two conditions that have made the discussion so polarized.

– It is important to stress that there is no indication that the epidemic was an intentional act, or that conspiracy theories about vaccines, for example, are true. This relates exclusively to the origin of the virus. There was also very little security in laboratories in China. It's also a potential problem in the future, because risky virus research could cause pandemics.

She also believes the investigations may suggest that the United States had a slightly larger role in the pandemic than initially thought.

– Over several years, the United States has granted research funding to various projects at the Wuhan Institute, and they may have been involved in the research suspected to be the origin of the coronavirus. But so far, scrutiny of the case has been marked by political polarization in the United States, she said.

The pandemic is in the rearview mirror

Secrecy in China

This week, a US commission, formed by Democrats and Republicans, will hold its first hearing on what has been discovered about the origin of the virus.

“I'm very excited about whether they will be able to discuss this properly and put aside the political conflicts that have characterized it so far,” Pratley says.

China's secrecy has made it difficult to gain insight into the processes that occurred when the virus first emerged. However, in the United States, insight has been gained into communications between key people who were involved in the case in various ways, which Pratley believes helps prove that there was a deliberate cover-up of facts that could shed light on where the investigation took place. The outbreak began.

She took 217 vaccines in two years

-Dirty game

The researcher also directs her criticism at the Norwegian press, which she believes has not written adequately about what has recently come to light in this case.

– Especially in the last year, a lot of interesting information has emerged indicating error on the part of certain teams. It's been fairly covered. In recent months, there have been a lot of “actions” in the US Congress where sensational aspects of the issue have come to light, but there are things we don't hear about in Norway.

She continues:

– I think it's because the case is so unpleasant. There appears to be some concern in the Norwegian media about this issue. It's very unfortunate. The only way we can get to the bottom of this is to talk about it.

Espen Nakstad believes that one of the most important things you can learn from the pandemic is how to avoid it.

This is why I hope that the research communities will continue to pay attention to epidemic outbreaks and virus surveillance, and that the authorities will continue to strengthen cooperation at the international level.