Monday, June 21, 2021

The Lancet: We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin

Scientists are only too human! Do not trust or rely on scientists too much! Be always skeptical! 

This statement published on 2/19/2020 signed by 27 authors in one of the most prestigious medical journals of the world is a huge stain and will be remembered! It is simply pseudoscience!

Who were these respected authors (just a few samples)?
  1. Christian Drosten, Director, Institute of Virology, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin (life time citations: 77958, authored 538 publications)
  2. Jeremy Farrar, British medical researcher and director of the Wellcome Trust ("financial endowment of £29.1 billion in 2020,[4] making it the fourth wealthiest charitable foundation in the world") since 2013 (life time citations: 63287, authored 604 publications)
  3. Gerald T. Keusch, associate provost for global health at Boston University Medical Campus (life time citations  17536, authored 350 publications)
"... The rapid, open, and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumours and misinformation around its origins. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife ... as have so many other emerging pathogens. This is further supported by a letter from the presidents of the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and by the scientific communities they represent. Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus. We support the call from the Director-General of WHO to promote scientific evidence and unity over misinformation and conjecture. We want you, the science and health professionals of China, to know that we stand with you in your fight against this virus. ..."

Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19 - The Lancet

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