Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19 – The Lancet
We are public health scientists who have closely followed the emergence of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and are deeply concerned about its impact on global health and wellbeing. We have watched as the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China, in particular, have worked diligently and effectively to rapidly identify the pathogen behind this outbreak, put in place significant measures to reduce its impact, and share their results transparently with the global health community. This effort has been remarkable.
We sign this statement in solidarity with all scientists and health professionals in China who continue to save lives and protect global health during the challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak. We are all in this together, with our Chinese counterparts in the forefront, against this new viral threat.
and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
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as have so many other emerging pathogens.
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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.
We invite others to join us in supporting the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of Wuhan and across China. Stand with our colleagues on the frontline!
Supplementary Material
References
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation summary.
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The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2.
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The role of wildlife in emerging and re-emerging zoonoses.
Rev Sci Tech. 2004; 23: 497-512
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The National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine of the USA. NAS, NAE, and NAM presidents’ letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
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Director-General’s remarks at the media briefing on 2019 novel coronavirus on 8 February 2020.
Article Info
Publication History
Published: February 19, 2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Linked Articles
- Addendum: competing interests and the origins of SARS-CoV-2
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In February, 2020, 27 public health experts co-authored a Correspondence in The Lancet (“Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19”),1 supporting health professionals and physicians in China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this letter, the authors declared no competing interests. Some readers have questioned the validity of this disclosure, particularly as it relates to one of the authors, Peter Daszak.
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- Science, not speculation, is essential to determine how SARS-CoV-2 reached humans
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On Feb 19, 2020, we, a group of physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, virologists, biologists, ecologists, and public health experts from around the world, joined together to express solidarity with our professional colleagues in China.1 Unsubstantiated allegations were being raised about the source of the COVID-19 outbreak and the integrity of our peers who were diligently working to learn more about the newly recognised virus, SARS-CoV-2, while struggling to care for the many patients admitted to hospital with severe illness in Wuhan and elsewhere in China.
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