A groundbreaking study by a diverse team of scientists, including a prominent researcher based in Saskatoon, has unveiled compelling evidence suggesting that the COVID-19 virus transmitted from infected animals to humans, refuting theories of a laboratory leak as its origin. This research illuminates the intricate web between wildlife and zoonotic disease transmission, further emphasizing the importance of ecological health.
Angie Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infection Disease Organization and co-author of the study, stated that their thorough analysis of hundreds of genetic samples offers robust yet circumstantial evidence linking the emergence of the pandemic to the wildlife trade at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China.
Published in the esteemed journal Cell this fall, the study indicates that the virus made its debut in the market at the precise time the pandemic began affecting human populations, reinforcing the notion that it was a critical point of origin connected to the live animal sales taking place there.
According to Rasmussen, “It’s very difficult to explain any other way, besides that virus was brought there with those live animals and it spilled over, twice actually, into the human population at the market.” This statement underscores the major role wildlife markets play in zoonotic disease spillovers, echoing warnings from epidemiologists worldwide.
Since the World Health Organization declared two primary theories regarding the pandemic’s origin in March 2020, experts have been eager to unravel the truth. The two prevailing theories posited that the virus either jumped from an infected animal to a human at the market or leaked from the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology, fueling fervent debates across the scientific community and the public alike.
Determining the origins of the COVID-19 virus became an urgent issue as the pandemic unfolded, igniting a sense of responsibility among leading scientists to clarify the sources of such a public health crisis. Armed with new data, researchers delved deeper into the genetic landscape of the virus.
While previous studies scrutinized the presence of COVID-19 at the market, this particular analysis focused on the genetic samples collected during a specific timeframe. It included key samples from animals such as raccoon dogs, bamboo rats, and palm civets, known for their potential as hosts and vectors for coronaviruses.
WATCH | The Saskatchewan lab investigating COVID-19 links to animals:
New evidence COVID-19 came from animals — not a Wuhan lab
A dedicated team at Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research claims to have discovered significant yet circumstantial genetic evidence backing the transmission of COVID-19 from animals to humans in Wuhan, China. Despite this growing body of evidence supporting an animal origin, many individuals still cling to the lab leak hypothesis.
Strong likelihood of animal link, study says
The researchers managed to trace exactly which species were present in areas where the virus was spreading most aggressively. Their findings suggest a clear link between the geographical proximity of COVID-19 samples and specific animal DNA, yet the researchers note that this doesn’t definitively prove that these animals were indeed infected.
Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease specialist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, praised the study as an excellent example of “very careful and pretty unbiased science.” She emphasized the necessity for understanding animal-human interactions and the dynamics of wildlife trade in anticipating future pandemics.
“If we don’t understand exactly how viruses spread and in what conditions they spread, then we are always going to underestimate, or not estimate at all, where the next threat comes from,” warned Barrett. Her insights serve as a reminder of the importance of proactive measures in public health.
“If you don’t know the why, history tends to repeat itself in the worst ways,” she continued, encapsulating the lessons history has taught us about emerging infectious diseases.
Reading genetic clues
Rasmussen’s collaboration with an international consortium of top virologists has been ongoing since 2020, striving to piece together the origins of the pandemic through publicly available data. The research team includes Canadian evolutionary biologist and University of Arizona professor Michael Worobey, who adds depth to the investigation.
In March 2023, a substantial dataset was made available online on a repository where scientists share genetic sequences for research purposes. This dataset was crucial and had previously been leveraged by Chinese scientists for a study published in the journal Nature in 2023, marking significant steps in the investigation into the virus’s origins.
Quickly capitalizing on this vital data, the research team began meticulously analyzing the genetic evidence collected from swabs on various surfaces within the market. Their findings provide further weight to the theory that the market was a central hub for transmission.
The mounting evidence from their study makes the laboratory leak hypothesis increasingly difficult to support. All analyzed data—from early case locations and their closeness to the market to the presence of animals and the two independent spillover events occurring just weeks apart in late 2019—strongly suggests a market origin for COVID-19.
“None of that can be explained with a lab leak,” Rasmussen asserted firmly, pushing back against persistent misconceptions. For the lab leak theory to be plausible, one would need to assume that an individual was infected at the laboratory and managed to visit the market without infecting others, a scenario that becomes highly improbable considering the genetic findings.
Rasmussen emphasized the urgency of focusing resources on more likely transmission pathways, stating, “When we’re talking about preventing future pandemics, we need to focus our resources on the problem that is much more likely to happen, than the hypothetical problem that is completely unsupported—and that would be the lab leak theory.”
Why the lab leak theory spread
The lab leak theory gained traction in the early days of the pandemic, while the narrative evolved as more information became available. Over time, leading virologists, including members of Rasmussen’s team, presented substantial evidence suggesting that animal transmission was far more plausible, casting further doubt on the lab leak hypothesis.
Timothy Caulfield, a law professor and health misinformation expert at the University of Alberta, indicates that the promotion of the lab leak theory is often a mechanism for sowing wider distrust in established scientific institutions. “If you don’t believe the lab leak theory, you’re the enemy,” he stated, highlighting the polarizing nature of this debate.
Caulfield noted that misinformation surrounding this subject continues to proliferate, as many individuals exhibit a strong inclination to support theories that align with their political beliefs. The persistent notion of intentionality behind the lab leak fosters a narrative of malevolence that remains compelling for many.
Rasmussen and her colleagues have faced a barrage of online criticism due to their findings. “We’re accused of conducting a propaganda campaign essentially to cover up the real story of a lab leak,” she expressed in frustration over the attacks, reiterating their commitment to scientific integrity and factual accuracy.
What are the key findings from Dr. Angie Rasmussen’s research regarding the origins of COVID-19?
**Interview with Dr. Angie Rasmussen: Unraveling the Origins of COVID-19**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Dr. Angie Rasmussen, virologist at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infection Disease Organization, and co-author of the groundbreaking study on the origins of COVID-19. Thank you for joining us!
**Dr. Rasmussen:** Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here.
**Interviewer:** Your recent research provides compelling evidence suggesting that the COVID-19 virus originated from animals in a wildlife market rather than from a laboratory leak. Can you delve into what your team discovered?
**Dr. Rasmussen:** Absolutely. Our study involved meticulous analysis of hundreds of genetic samples collected from surfaces in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China. We found a strong link between COVID-19 cases and specific animals, particularly raccoon dogs, which are known to carry coronaviruses. The timing of the virus’s emergence coincides precisely with the live animal sales happening at the market. This strongly supports the idea that the virus was introduced to humans through these animals.
**Interviewer:** That aligns with what many epidemiologists have warned us about regarding wildlife markets. What do you think are the implications of these findings for public health?
**Dr. Rasmussen:** The implications are significant. If we can understand how and where viruses spill over from animals to humans, we can take crucial steps to prevent future pandemics. Dr. Lisa Barrett, another expert in this area, emphasizes that understanding the dynamics of animal-human interactions and wildlife trade is vital. We need to be proactive in identifying potential risks to human health rather than reactive.
**Interviewer:** Some people still cling to the lab leak theory despite the mounting evidence against it. Why do you think that is?
**Dr. Rasmussen:** I think it’s essential to differentiate between speculation and evidence-based science. Our analysis presents robust genetic evidence supporting the market origin theory, while the lab leak hypothesis relies on unfounded assumptions. The likelihood of an individual being infected in a laboratory and visiting the market without spreading the virus is highly improbable given the evidence we have. Public health should be grounded in data and facts, not speculation.
**Interviewer:** Your team’s research was made possible because of shared genetic sequence data released earlier this year. How critical was this dataset for your findings?
**Dr. Rasmussen:** The dataset was absolutely crucial. It allowed us to analyze genetic sequences in a way that hadn’t been done before. By collaborating with international researchers and accessing this data, we could connect case locations to specific species present in the market. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the origins of COVID-19.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what do you think our next steps should be in terms of preventing future outbreaks?
**Dr. Rasmussen:** We need to enhance our surveillance of zoonotic diseases and regulate wildlife trade to minimize human exposure. Moreover, we need comprehensive research efforts to continue understanding how viruses move through populations. Investing in ecological health is paramount because a healthy ecosystem ultimately translates to healthier human populations.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Rasmussen, for shedding light on this critical topic and for your ongoing efforts in understanding the origins of COVID-19. It’s clear that lessons from this pandemic must inform our approach to future public health challenges.
**Dr. Rasmussen:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this important work!
