Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID 19) is an infectious disease caused by a virus from SARS family, denominated as SARS-CoV-2. A Chinese Ophthalmologist from Wuhan Central hospital in China, Dr. Li Wenliang, was the first whistle-blower who warned his colleagues on December 30th, 2019 of seven confirmed SARS Coronavirus cases of unknown subtype and asked them to inform their friends and families to take due care. Dr. Li and seven other whistle- blowers from Wuhan were admonished by The Police Department for spreading ―misleading information‖ on the internet about COVID-19.
Dr. Li himself contracted the viral infection while attending a SARS-CoV-2 infected shopkeeper from Huanan Seafood market with a heavy viral load. He lost his life while battling COVID-19 on February 7th, 2020.
Since then, the virulent disease spread across the Hubei Province and its provincial capital, Wuhan like wildfire. WHO declared on 30th January 2020 that the virus represents a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) status and ungraded the status to Pandemic on March 12th, 2020. In spite of flight and border restrictions imposed by many nations from China, the spread of COVID-19 could not be contained. In spite of massive restrictions on flights, lockdowns becoming a common feature in most of the countries, COVID-19 is still spreading like wildfires. As on31st March 2020, almost 425,000 confirmed cases1 (though it is suspected that China has not been reporting asymptomatic cases making the data skewed), 26000+ deaths all over the world; US, Iran and Italy being other three major countries showing large numbers of infected patients and deaths outside China.
India scenario
Indian response to COVID-19 was quick. Within a fortnight of first reports, Indian authorities started thermal screening of incoming travellers on international airports for COVID- 19 symptoms from 18th January 2020 and declared travel advisories (17th February 2020). Three travellers positively diagnosed were quarantined, treated successfully in Kerala and let off after ensuring that they are completely free of the virus. Students and other travellers evacuated from China too were quarantined and let off. This quick response and systematic approach helped India remain relatively free from COVID-19 in early days of spread of the infectious virus. Eventually, the nation would be required to deal with the epidemic, but this precious lead time required to prepare to defend against a new infectious agent would prove to be a boon for India. Though number of positive cases in India are increasing by the day, even after three months of global COVID-19 spread, India has not entered third phase of community transmission. In a massive effort of quarantine, isolation, identification and treatment of COVID-19 travellers and tracing of people coming in contact with asymptomatic travellers, Indian authorities have been successful so far to contain the disese spread to Phase 2. National lockdown has been declared from 21st March 2020 to contain the spread and further delay the entry into phase 3 of community transmission.
India needs to be vigilant during this COVID-19 pandemic for domestic bioterrorism conspiracies to intentionally spreading the disease. In spite of social distancing instructions and lockdowns Nizamuddin Markaz congregation of 1746 including 216 foreigners and 1530 Indians were staying together as well as 824 foreigners spread across the nation for Tabligh Jamaat activities. About 441 show symptoms of COVID-19 and are suspected to be infected as 24 of them were found to be positive for COVID-19. Most of them have been screened and quarantined and their contact tracing is on-going. These incidences raise the risk of such intentional spread of the disease across India.
Origin of SARS-COV2 and Gain of Function Research
With the highly virulent and infectious spread of COVID-19 of a global epidemic nature, it is reasonable to question and look for the origin of the disease and virus. Species jumping of an animal virus to humans resulting in a global epidemic needs to critically analysed to understand the nature and to prevent future occurrences of such zoonotic incidences. This global spread of COVID-19 has again brought into focus the debate surrounding ―Gain of Function‖ research using highly pathogenic microbes, especially viruses of zoonotic origin. The need and the ethical standards of the Gain of Function research and its boundaries and risks of possible misuse or accidental spreads has been debated extensively.2
Conspiracy theories and suspicious origins
As news became rife with hundreds and thousands of Chinese citizens, healthcare workers getting infected with virulent strains of SARS-CoV2 and death tolls started rising dramatically, the global media was bubbling with conspiracy theories of SARS-CoV2 being used as a Bioweapon. Some claimed it to be an extremely virulent strain developed by China and got either accidentally leaked or intentionally spread to the seafood market in Wuhan. Some claimed that this virulent strain was smuggled from Canada/ US by Chinese scientists. Another theory claimed it be isolated from bats in deep caves of interior China. Another proposed an international conspiracy theory to ̳deal‘ with US-China trade war.
Social media was flooded with all sorts of claims and counterclaims making it difficult to look for authentic information to agree or rule out any of these views. A string of coincidences and prominent events/ comments which raised questions were
. Dr. Charles Lieber, Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University and his Chinese students having links with Wuhan Institute of Virology were arrested on 28th January 2020. One of his arrested students Zheng, was arrested at the airport trying to smuggle out vials of ―some biological material‖ and the another student, Ye, is a Lieutenant of the People‘s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the People‘s Republic of China and member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).3 What‘s the link?
. Why was the article by Chinese scientists ―The possible origins of 2019-nCoV coronavirus‖ about the COVID-19 virus originating from Wuhan Institute of Virology retracted?4
. BSL-4 (P-4) labs are the labs involving study of the greatest biological threats and are designed to have the highest level of biosafety precautions to contain all infectious agents used by scientists. Wuhan lab is the only BSL-4 lab in China. There is a history of such leakage from Chinese labs5 . Is it a Chinese Bioweapon under development in Wuhan lab,6–8 gone wrong or an international conspiracy theory9 of US attack on China to ̳deal‘ with US-China trade war is a subject in itself to investigate.
. Where did the viral strain originate? What‘s the hypothesis of Chinese scientists for the spread? A study by Chinese scientists suggested that their phylogenetic study suggest that bats might be original hosts of this virus, and an animal sold in seafood market in Wuhan might be an intermediate host facilitating the emergence of this virus in humans.10
. If not HIV inserts11 (as suggested by a paper, later retracted12) or genetically modified, had evolutionary passages through hosts occurred naturally or were they synthesised in the lab?
. Extensive data analysis shows no proof that the viral strain is manipulated.13,14
China announced their plans to fast-track their biosecurity legislation, an umbrella law on all aspects of biosecurity related issues.15
News of China buying back stakes in large Chinese corporations previously held by American and European investors and their buying spree to take over Italian companies have raised eyebrows giving rise further speculation of COVID-19 being a Chinese conspiracy for global economic supremacy.
There are voices being raised for reparation from China for negligence in warning the global community of a super-infectious virus first reported in November 2020 in 52 year old patient in Hubei province.
Such conspiracy theories whether baseless or with some valid reasons, bring about a horrendous economic impact on global economy and create an environment of all pervasive fear psychosis. Instead of such speculative accusations, systematic analysis of data for each claim from each perspective needs to be carried out. If it is proven to be a naturally occurring strain crossing over species to humans without any human intervention, it is a nightmare from public health perspective. And still the questions of its sources and sudden crossovers remain unanswered.
On the other side, just a hint of the strain being an underdevelopment or developed bioweapon, completely changes the dimensions. It raises a possibility of another international biological weapons race after the one witnessed during World War II and in Cold War era. However, the technological developments and availability of biotechnological tools nowadays paints doomsday pictures.
BWC and COVID-19
As SARS virus SARS-CoV is classified according to Article X of BWC and CIVID-19 virus novel SARS-CoV2 is its variant, does it have implied classified status of SARS virus? It in effect means that any state- or non-state group responsible for intentional or unintentional spread of COVID-19, has committed an international crime of bioterrorism and is liable to be prosecuted under BWC. This situation makes it imperative for international community to NOT dismiss the conspiracy theories without conclusively proven otherwise.
In this mayhem of claims, counterclaims and hurriedly put up scientific data to prove or debunk the other side, Indian experts need to process, dissect and analyse every bit of information an unbiased critical eye. With China at the centre of such a huge international public health controversy, Indian security experts cannot simply rubbish the bioweapon angle. In fact, looking back each and every such suspected case involving an unusual debilitating virus cases like Ebola, SARS, MERS and Nipah in India or abroad need to be critically evaluated from a national preparedness point of view. And, the nation needs an investigative research facility with this sole mandate.
Can any conspiracy theories be dismissed even before proven otherwise? Any scientific hypothesis needs to be proven, either ways. Till then, the world must live with the question marks.
References:
1. WHO- Situation reports. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus- 2019/situation-reports.
2. Lab-Made Coronavirus Triggers Debate. The Scientist Magazine® https://www.the- scientist.com/news-opinion/lab-made-coronavirus-triggers-debate-34502.
3. Harvard University Professor and Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Three Separate China Related Cases. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/harvard-university-professor-and-two- chinese-nationals-charged-three-separate-china-related (2020).
4. Hedge, Z. Smoking Gun? Chinese Scientist Finds ―Killer Coronavirus Probably Originated From A Laboratory In Wuhan‖. NATION AND STATE https://nationandstate.com/2020/02/14/smoking-gun-chinese-scientist-finds-killer- coronavirus-probably-originated-from-a-laboratory-in-wuhan/ (2020).
5. Piper, K. How deadly pathogens have escaped the lab — over and over again. Vox https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/3/20/18260669/deadly-pathogens-escape- lab-smallpox-bird-flu (2019).
6. The Real Umbrella Corp: Wuhan Ultra Biohazard Lab Was Studying ̳The World‘s Most Dangerous Pathogens‘. Zero Hedge https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/real-umbrella- corp-wuhan-ultra-biohazard-lab-was-studying-worlds-most-dangerous-pathogens.
7. himalaya_hawk. WUHAN P4 LABORATORY – A PART OF PANDORA‘S BOX. Gnews https://gnews.org/119075/ (2020).
8. Report, T. M. Wuhan Coronavirus Bioterrorist Attack Is China‘s 9/11, Same Perps – The Millennium Report. http://themillenniumreport.com/2020/02/wuhan-coronavirus-bio-attack- is-chinas-9-11-same-perps/.
9. Arab Writers: The Coronavirus Is Part Of Biological Warfare Waged By The U.S. Against China. MEMRI https://www.memri.org/reports/arab-writers-coronavirus-part-biological- warfare-waged-us-against-china.
10. Lu, R. et al. Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. The Lancet 395, 565–574 (2020).
11. Xiao, C. et al. HIV-1 did not contribute to the 2019-nCoV genome. Emerg. Microbes Infect. 9, 378–381 (2020).
12. Pradhan, P. et al. Uncanny similarity of unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV spike protein to HIV-1 gp120 and Gag. bioRxiv 2020.01.30.927871 (2020) doi:10.1101/2020.01.30.927871.
13. These Lies And Conspiracies About The Wuhan Coronavirus Are Totally False. https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-all-the-nonsense-people-are-spreading-about-the-wuhan- coronavirus.
14. No, The Wuhan Coronavirus Was Not Genetically Engineered To Put Pieces Of HIV In It. https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2020/02/02/no-coronavirus-was-not bioengineered-to-put-pieces-of-hiv-in-it/#3ea50c9b56cb.
15. China to fast-track biosecurity law in coronavirus aftermath. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/china-fast-track-biosecurity-law-140752282.html.
