COVID-19 Solution: The Omicron Dilemma

The current pandemic has been devastating, killing over 5 million humans, globally. First, we have filibustered immensely on the source of this virus. The virus has come from an animal host infected by a bat. Most importantly, the #1 rated biologist Kristian Andersen concludes, virus must have arisen by natural selection, not manipulation. In Nature, 2020, Anderson summarises that the SARS2 spike protein is not of the calculated best design, and hence it cannot be manipulated. It has a natural origin. The symptoms in COVID-19, acute respiratory syndrome, are exactly identical to SARS & MERS. Hence, we can conclude that the virus arose from an animal host.

After a careful study of animal viruses over the last 100 years, it can be reconfirmed, backed by scientific evidence that bat Coronaviruses (as shown below) have caused the Hendra Virus (Horses), Nipah Virus (Pigs), Ebola (Bats), MERS (Camels), SARS (Civets) and now COVID-19 (Pangolin/Badgers). Animals have been found as the intermediate hosts andthese viruses are then transmitted to humans when they consume these bat-infected animals. Examples of this scenario include the Asian Flu Pandemic (1957-58), caused by human consumption of ducks (Source: CDC), when over 1.1 million people were killed and the deadly SARS virus (Human consumption of Civets, 2002, China) (Source: Robert Roos, 'Nature 2020'). Similar was the case with the MERS virus (Human Consumption of Camels; Source: WHO& CDC).  

At the heart of these Bat Coronaviruses is a 'Furin Cleavage site' which is present in all coronaviruses. When a human eats a bat-infected animal, this Furin Cleavage site activates a protease enzyme called 'Furin', which hijacks a protein in human cells. SARS-COV2 (COVID19) has a polybasic insertion (PRRAR) at the S1/S2 cleavage site that can be cleaved by Furin. Similar Furin action has been noticed in SARS. Identical action, driven by Furin is seen in MERS, Nipah and Hendra viruses. The Furin Cleavage site is key in the amplification of the virus. This means that the site enables the virus to spread and multiply, ultimately causing death in human beings.

The Wuhan Strain and the Delta Variant

The original Wuhan strain was caused due to human consumption of pangolin/badgers/raccoon dogs in Wuhan in December 2019. The virus spread because of regular flights from Wuhan to the US, Europe and Iran post the Chinese New Year. In this case of COVID-19, the virus has spread 'human mouth to mouth' with an algorithm of [(animal-human) + (human-human) raise to N], meaning exponential spread over a short period of time. The optimality of the virus is when it is travelling over short distances of up to 3 metres in the air. This phenomenon, further, leads to a 'viral effect or network effect of the virus.

The Delta variant is likely the first derivative of the H5N8 virus in chicken, originating in India. This variant was responsible for the deadly second wave of 2021 and exhibited similar transmission mechanism. Gorman of New York Times alludes to this in 'A New Bird Flu jumps to humans' (April 26,2021). Bat Coronaviruses cause respiratory problems in chicken, which then lead to breathing problems in humans when they consume these infected birds, leading to the oxygen crisis. In India, wild animals are not consumed. Cattle consumption is banned and pig consumption is very low.

Variants vs Vaccines

The Omicron variant is also likely to have risen out of human consumption of a bat infected animal and it is unlikely to be a mutation of the Wuhan strain. The variants coming from different animals have the ability to nullify the effect of the vaccine. In the past, Variants B1351 & P1 have re-infected people who have recovered from COVID-19. For B117, a 2-fold increase in serum antibody is required while variant P1, seen in Brazil, is 2.5 folds more contagious than the old common strains. For B117, a 2 folds concentration is required to neutralise the virus. The variants are coming from different animals, indicating that the viral effect occurs following human consumption of animals. The same can be said of the new Omicron variant. A recent Chicago Booth Study found that 8 per cent of Covid cases and 5250 deaths are linked to meat packing plants. Though vaccines are a tremendous advancement, they will not be able to 'completely solve the problem' and their effects are also getting nullified by the respective variants.

To conclude, bat Coronaviruses, via the action of Furin, through the Furin Cleavage sites, play an extremely important role in protecting the animal kingdom from human encroachment. Similarly, when cannibals eat human beings, they get brain disease as these are different ecosystems. Furthermore, animals are able to absorb these bat Coronaviruses while humans cannot, making it clear that humans cannot encroach on the animal ecosystem.

Ashish Kalra

Guest Author The author is an Independent Scientist