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Earlier Origins Hypothesis
This earlier origins hypothesis article is a branch from the SARS-CoV-2 Origins page.
Infectious Disease Research
Fort Detrick in Maryland has long housed infectious agents being researched by military scientists.
- August 5, 2019 - Deadly Germ Research Is Shut Down at Army Lab Over Safety Concerns1)
Illnesses Unexplained
In 2019, an illness first termed VAPI (changed to EVALI) was noted in the U.S., and was blamed on vaping and e-cigarettes. The illness shares symptomatic features with COVID-19, and resulting hospitalizations formed an ordinary viral infection curve.2)
- July 17, 2019 - Unexplained respiratory illness at Virginia retirement community.3)
- July 31, 2021 - Exclusive: Some 2019 EVALI patients in the US may have been infected with COVID-19: sources4)
- Oct 9, 2019 - Army Confirms Two Soldiers Being Treated for Severe Lung Injuries from Vaping5)
- Feb 11, 2022 - Commentary on the EVALI-as-COVID hypothesis on substack.6)
Wastewater Reports
Sewage samples from Barcelona, Spain from May, 2019.7)
Antibody Studies
Multiple studies have found SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pre-pandemic serums in multiple nations.
In a study published in February, 2021, scientists found IgG neutralizing antibodies in serums collected in France from November, 2019, signaling a latest possible outbreak date in France.8)
In a preprint posted on November 13, 2021, scientists note SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in samples as far back as September 3, 2019. There were no samples tested prior to September, 2019, so it is unclear how far back the presence of antibodies might go. These patients were scattered in cities around Italy.9)
1)
August 5, 2019 | The NYT | Deadly Germ Research Is Shut Down at Army Lab Over Safety Concerns
2)
March, 2020 | Rossana Segreto | preprint | Is SARS-CoV-2 the causative agent of EVALI cases prior to the Covid-19 pandemic? | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359231017_Is_SARS-CoV-2_the_causative_agent_of_EVALI_cases_prior_to_the_Covid-19_pandemic
3)
July 17, 2019 | NBC Washington | Cause of Respiratory Illness Still Unknown After Dozens Sickened at Virginia Retirement Community
4)
July 31, 2021 | Global Times | Exclusive: Some 2019 EVALI patients in the US may have been infected with COVID-19: sources
5)
October 9, 2019 | Military.com | Army Confirms Two Soldiers Being Treated for Severe Lung Injuries from Vaping
6)
February 11, 2022 | The Requestor | Is Wuhan a Red Herring? Addendum
7)
June 13, 2020 | Gemma Chavarria-Miro et al | preprint | Sentinel surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater anticipates the occurrence of COVID-19 cases | doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.13.20129627
8)
February 6, 2021 | Carrat et al | European Journal of Epidemiology | Evidence of early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in France: findings from the population-based “CONSTANCES” cohort | DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-020-00716-2
9)
September 13, 2021 | Apolone et al | preprint | Unexpected detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the prepandemic period in Italy | https://doi.org/10.25384/SAGE.c.5206852.v1