There may be some truth to Lab Leak Theories

Viruses can accidentally spread during virology research in labs. Viruses may escape the labs in the event of human errors, software loopholes, maintenance issues and/or equipment malfunctions. In such possibility, one wonders if there is any truth to the 'COVID-19 Lab leak' theories.

Hyderabad:President of the United States, Donald Trump, alleges that the novel coronavirus was manufactured in one of China’s laboratories. Many countries have expressed similar suspicions. But is there any truth to such allegations? Can the lab-escaped viruses turn into pandemics? Were there any such instances in China in the past?

Research on viruses is paramount for the survival of humanity. In order to prevent fatalities from future virus attacks, scientists must study the changes in virus genomes from time to time. Sometimes, scientists themselves alter the genome structure to make the viruses deadlier. Virology labs have been set up around the world to perform such experiments. The labs are ranked based on their biosecurity levels. These laboratory wastes cannot be disposed along with regular wastes. Even the water used for bathing in the laboratories undergoes chemical treatment. Since viruses use every possible way to enter the human body, virology labs need to maintain high safety standards. Wuhan’s P4 lab, which is at the center of coronavirus controversy, is one such bio-safety laboratory.

In 1972, a woman working at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine conducted an experiment in which she created smallpox virus on eggshells. Not having adhered to any safety measures, she contracted the virus. By the time she was isolated in a hospital ward, a nurse and two other patients contracted the virus from her. Smallpox virus escaped from Buckingham Medical School in 1978. Janet Parker, a medical photographer working in the school building, got lesions all over her skin. Initially, the doctors suspected it to be measles. But as the disease intensity grew, they conducted tests and diagnosed it as smallpox. She died within a few days. Though Janet’s mother contracted the virus from her, she survived. The virus was revealed to have escaped the lab through ventilators, thanks to the researchers’ negligence. 300 people were quarantined after this incident.

In 2007, blunders in a UK laboratory near Pirbright led to an anthrax leak. The virus spread over a 4 km radius. The scientists who examined the genome of this virus identified it as the same type that emerged in 1967. There is an anthrax vaccination center in Pirbright. The trucks used for construction work near that site have accidentally transported the mud containing anthrax virus, leading to a transmission among animals.

During 1930-1970, a mosquito-borne viral disease called Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) was prevalent in the Americas. Since it was a zoonotic virus, VEE vaccine was developed in 1938 and administered to animals. Unfortunately, some of the live vaccine batches had used partly inactivated viruses. As a result, the disease has surfaced several times till 1970. The error was later detected. The virus outbreak stopped for a while. However, in 1995, the virus made a comeback in Venezuela. This time, it attacked human beings. Its genome resembled the one detected in 1963. Since it was not used in making a vaccine, it was concluded that the virus (not being fully attenuated) has escaped a laboratory.

Viruses can accidentally spread during virology research in labs. Viruses may escape the labs in the event of human errors, software loopholes, maintenance issues and/or equipment malfunctions. Between 2005 and 12, many such lab leaks were brought to the attention of the US CDC. Scientists’ lives can be endangered if there is a shortage of protective equipment. Sterilizing equipment and showers faucets in chemical baths can malfunction at times. There were nearly 40 such incidents during 2015-17. During the attempts to shift the USFDA office from Bethesda to White Oak in 2014, a box containing smallpox virus was poorly mishandled. Fortunately, nobody got infected. In 2008, an employee at a US laboratory died of an unknown viral infection owing to a sterilizing device’s malfunctioning.

In 2009, researchers working on Bird Flu virus, were mandated to take chemical bath wearing their PPE, before venturing out of the lab. But one of the researchers violated this rule as the shower was not working. Luckily, the laboratory personnel had averted a virus leak. As the novel coronavirus is spreading at a deadly rate in the US, the CDC decided to produce testing kits on a large scale. The production unit in Atlanta headquarters was proximal to artificial nCoV experimenting units. During the process, the virus found its way to one of the testing kits. As a result, the kits showed positive even when distilled water was tested. The kits were exported to several countries. By the time the error was detected and corrected, it was too late.

The SARS-CoV-1 (responsible for SARS, 2002) got leaked from laboratories several times. There have been instances where the leaked virus killed many people. Four such lab leaks happened in China alone. Super spreaders were pivotal in the spread of 2002 SARS. After 2003, no human beings have contracted the SARS-CoV-1 through natural means. In August 2003, a student of the National University of Singapore was tested positive for SARS. But the virus did not transmit to others. The WHO has modified the biosafety guidelines for handling of SARS-CoV-1 specimens and cultures in December 2003.

In December 2003, a researcher in Taiwan’s Taipei was found infected with SARS. Two weeks before being diagnosed, he disposed of biowaste from a military hospital without using PPE. After tracing his contacts, 70 people were quarantined. Between April 22 and 29, 2004, two students at China’s National Institute of Virology were diagnosed with SARS. The infection spread to seven other students. The UK’s Daily Express reported three more virus leaks in the same lab after that incident.