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The spread of the Wuhan coronavirus has become one of the most important health problems of the 21st century. The origin of the virus, which caused a pandemic with global impacts, has become the subject of much speculation and scientific analysis. Miroslav Bobek, a leading Czech natural scientist and expert on zoonoses, brings a comprehensive view of where this virus really comes from, what its origin is and what its place is in the mosaic of new infectious diseases. His comments are based on long-term studies, cooperation with leading institutions such as the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, the State Institute of Public Health or Charles University, and its clinical partners including the Motol University Hospital or the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine.
The story of the Wuhan coronavirus often raises questions about a possible artificial origin in the laboratories of the city of Wuhan, especially with regard to the existence of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, Miroslav Bobek emphasizes that no convincing evidence confirms this theory. On the contrary, the data show that the pandemic originated in bats, whose viruses jumped to other intermediate species in animal markets, similar to what happened with SARS in 2002.
According to research from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and other partner institutions, live animals in unclear market conditions represent an ideal environment for mutation and transmission of viruses. Bobek compares Asian markets to “hotbeds” of new diseases – places where different special species meet and allow viruses to quickly mutate and spread into the human population.
Bobek sees the greatest parallel between the current coronavirus and the SARS virus, which broke out in Guangdong province in 2002. At that time, the virus was transmitted from civets, but their primary carriers were bats – the same scenario that, according to experts, also applies to the transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus. At the same time, the location of animal markets, where transmission between animals and humans occurs, remains a common element. Support for these conclusions comes from research associated with the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Masaryk University, which analyze in detail the genetic similarity of viruses and the route of their spread.
According to Bobek, visiting traditional Asian live animal markets is an almost terrifying experience. Dozens of species of domestic and wild animals survive in cramped spaces amid the smells of urine, blood and feces. This type of trade not only causes suffering for many species, but also dramatically increases the risk of pathogen transmission. Research by the Veterinary Institute together with Bioveta documents how viruses can change and spread precisely in such conditions.
In 2020, after the outbreak of the pandemic, Chinese authorities banned wild animal markets, but only temporarily. However, this problem is global and the areas not mentioned include, for example, the African “bushmeat” trade, which was a known source of diseases such as AIDS and Ebola. A major initiative by the Wildlife Conservation Society is therefore calling for a global ban on the market and trade in wild animals, which is also supported by the Czech Medical Society of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in connection with the prevention of new infectious diseases.
The cooperation of Czech research institutions such as the Motol University Hospital, the State Institute of Public Health and the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine is crucial in understanding and managing the pandemic. Scientists are currently working on a detailed mapping of the genetic properties of the coronavirus and its transmission routes. Charles University, together with research teams from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, are continuously developing methods for monitoring mutations and predicting possible further outbreaks based on the latest findings. Pointing to the deep connection between animal pathogens and human health, Bobek emphasizes the need for permanent measures to protect nature and public health. He also highlights the importance of prevention, which ranges from better hygiene practices in markets to global regulations and public education.
Léa Verdier je milovnice přírody a vášnivá zahradnice, která sdílí své objevy, ekologické tipy a inspiraci pro udržitelný život. Jejím cílem je ukázat, že péče o zahradu znamená i péči o sebe a o planetu.
