Virologist Chumakov: the version about the artificial origin of the omicron is a conspiracy
Photo: Marko Djurica / Reuters
The version about the artificial origin of the omicron strain is a conspiracy theory. This was stated by Konstantin Chumakov, Director of the Center of Excellence of the Global Virological Network, on the air of the Ekho Moskvy radio station.
“It seems to me that when people talk about the artificial origin of this omicron, it’s just pure conspiracy theories, and nothing more. It seems to me that this theory does not help anyone, ”Chumakov said.
The virologist explained that there is nothing unusual about the structure of the South African strain. The specialist emphasized that scientists know about the origin of the omicron – it came from a person with AIDS. Its number of mutations is due to the fact that the infected person did not have an immune system.
Earlier, Chinese scientists said that one of the artificially created pathogens of COVID-19 for laboratory mice could lead to the appearance of the omicron strain of the coronavirus. The usual SARS-CoV-2 is not dangerous for mice, and therefore there are coronaviruses specially created in laboratories. They hypothesized that the omicron's progenitor could pass from humans to mice, quickly accumulate mutations, and then “jump” back.
