New Data Sparks Debate on COVID-19 Origins
Could COVID-19 have started in the U.S.? Recent studies drawing on CDC serological surveys and NIH research suggest SARS-CoV-2 might have been circulating in the U.S. months before the first known outbreak in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province in the Chinese mainland.
A CDC survey identified over 100 antibody-positive samples in nine states between December 2019 and January 2020—several predating officially recorded cases in China. Meanwhile, the NIH's 'All of Us' study detected SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in samples collected in Illinois and Massachusetts as early as January.
Reports of unexplained respiratory outbreaks in 2019 add to the intrigue. Virginia saw 19 mysterious incidents from May to October, including community clusters of pneumonia that local media labeled a 'mystery virus.' Around the same time, the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory—just an hour from the hardest-hit areas—was shuttered, fueling speculation about potential links.
Additionally, a surge in severe lung illnesses initially blamed on vaping peaked in August and September 2019. Symptoms mirrored COVID-19 signs—coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue—and led to over 2,800 hospitalizations and 68 deaths nationwide.
Other clues include early flu-like outbreaks in South Carolina in September 2019, possible misclassified COVID-19 fatalities, and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies found in Florida patients in January 2020—despite the state's first official case arriving in March. This data later vanished from public records, and the state's data chief was dismissed.
Complicating the picture further are 28 incidents at the University of North Carolina involving genetically engineered microorganisms, including modified coronaviruses. Some experts suggest these events may point to a laboratory origin rather than a natural spillover.
As evidence mounts, the global community faces fresh debates over COVID-19's true origins. Unraveling this pandemic mystery will require transparent research, international cooperation and open data sharing—key steps to prepare for future global health challenges.
Reference(s):
Evidence mounts suggesting COVID-19 may have originated in the U.S.
cgtn.com
