Economist Podcasts Fits and starts: SARS-CoV-2’s origin
Aug 19, 2021
Natasha Loader, The Economist's health policy editor, and Matthew Hullhouse, British politics correspondent, dive into the tangled origins of COVID-19, emphasizing the flawed WHO investigation that neglected key evidence. They discuss the implications of these findings on global health preparedness and the challenges posed by China's opacity. Shifting gears, they analyze Boris Johnson's struggles with reconciling environmental promises and the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, highlighting the socio-political complexities of this significant shift.
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COVID-19 Origin Mystery
- The origin of the original COVID-19 variant is still unknown, possibly involving animal-to-human transmission.
- Alternative theories, like a research-related accident, haven't been ruled out, prompting WHO's investigation request to China.
Flawed WHO Report
- The WHO's March report on COVID-19's origins is considered flawed due to its limited scope and China's control over data.
- The investigation primarily focused on zoonotic origins and lacked a broader perspective.
Data Withheld from WHO
- The WHO investigation lacked access to crucial data, including evidence of live animal sales in Wuhan.
- Tens of thousands of live animals were sold in Wuhan before the outbreak, information not shared with the WHO team.