SAINT-PETERSBURG (Russia), June 3 (Xinhua) – Political questions have no place in research on the emergence of new viruses, because taking them into account is counterproductive and will hamper scientific research, a estimated Vladimir Dedkov, deputy director of scientific work at the Institut Pasteur in St. Petersburg, in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Dedkov participated in a 28-day global virological study in Wuhan, China from Jan. 14 to Feb. 10 as Russia’s expert on the World Health Organization’s international expert group ( WHO).
After visiting the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), the Russian expert said all his work had been carried out in full compliance with existing biosafety standards.
In addition, analysis of the dynamics of COVID-19 cases in December 2019 did not reveal any signs that they were associated with WIV, Dedkov assured.
According to him, if the hypothesis of the artificial origin of the new coronavirus is to be verified, it is necessary to investigate all laboratories working with viruses of this type, not only in China, but also in other countries.
So, he says, politicizing this subject is totally counterproductive. And to wish that other experts work together to find the cause of the pandemic instead of accusing China without proof.
Recalling that scientists have not yet found “patient zero”, Vladimir Dedkov believes that in order to find answers, it is necessary to conduct a large-scale study on the spread of this scourge in neighboring countries and to study the biological samples taken outside of China before the pandemic.
Research on tracing the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 should continue to ensure the collective security of populations, he noted.
It is very important to study the diversity of viruses in nature, the scientist noted, adding that work on this topic is currently being carried out by independent teams in different countries and that this could help prevent the biological threats to which the humanity will face in the future.
It is also important that such studies are conducted without political overtones, Dedkov stressed. Only scientists who rely on international cooperation can clarify the question of the origin of the new viruses. End
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