The Hunt for the Missing Corona Virus Link

Scientists believe it was inevitable the SARS-C0V-2 virus would eventually cross from an animal to a human. Now we know it has succeeded, we need to understand why, and how. The World Health Organization says we may never know for sure. None the less, the hunt for the missing corona virus link continues unabated.

BushMeat: a Target in the Hunt for Missing Corona Virus Link

The Wuhan wildlife market in China may, or may not be a clue. The trail is dead here, since the government flattened the buildings and made it a parking lot.

Infectious disease specialists agree the coronavirus jumped the species via an intermediary animal. Prof Andrew Cunningham warned the BBC that human encroachment increases the risk of human-to-animal contact. The viruses causing COVID-19, SARS, EBOLA, MERS, and RABIES all migrated across from bats. These have become prime suspects in the hunt for the missing corona virus link.

How Did a Bat Flying High Up There Pass the Corona to a Human Being?

Many viruses have crossed a bridge, using a second species farmed or hunted by humans for protein. The SARS-1 virus traveled via civet cats, a delicacy in China. Scientists have discovered clues for SARS-C0V-2 in ferrets, mink, pangolins and turtles but no proof.

Trying to outlaw bushmeat is impractical. A black market would develop, while the poorest-of-the-poor starve to death. The World Health Organization would like to see better hygiene at wet meat markets, but how practical is that?

The hunt for the missing corona virus link is far from over. Meanwhile, wild animal trade holds us at risk of silent new diseases stalking our future. This is not something we can solve in a conference room in Geneva. We need more hands-on researchers on the ground.

Threatened Animal Species and Human Health

How the Virus Jumped from Animals to People

Preview Image: Greater Horseshoe Bats

mark olsoe on May 9, 2020 7:31 pm

Thanks for your well written and informative article. As one who ponders on the future of the planet, here’s my thoughts from a human survivability point of view. After years of thinking about it my conclusion is that we need to do each of the following three things for a survivable future.

1) Dramatically reduce FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION. This is a massively entrenched problem that needs an industrial sized solution. I agree with the U.N and Paris Climate Accord that the only way to do this is with carbon taxes. This would then provide strong enough encouragement for the things you where talking about to happen. A portion of these taxes would be retroactive in the sense that the developed world which put most of the existing man made CO2 in the atmosphere would pay more than developing countries.
2) REMEDIATION of the forests, and probably also we will need remediation in the form of putting aerosols in the stratosphere for cooling. If these aerosols were basic (vs acidic) they would also help remediate the acidification of the oceans.
3) STABILIZE THE POPULATION. There are simply too many people on the planet such that we are overwhelming the earths human carrying capacity. Begin with free birth control, free abortions and free birth control education. Also encourage the idea of a ‘Birth Right’. Which is the idea that each person has the right to replace themselves with only one child. If a family wants to have more than that, they could get the Birth Right from someone who’s decided not to have children. That person would have the option of having an uncle role in the life of that child and family. This would help compensate for the reduction of relationships that would result from everyone having smaller families.

Just like a three legged stool that needs three legs to be stable, I think we need ALL of these three actions for any hope of a stable, survivable future for human kind. I have been inspired by the prophets of old to think along these lines and to then contribute to this group think we need to survive as a species.

Fellow Homo Sapien, Mark Olsoe

1 Comment

mark olsoe on May 9, 2020 7:31 pm

Thanks for your well written and informative article. As one who ponders on the future of the planet, here’s my thoughts from a human survivability point of view. After years of thinking about it my conclusion is that we need to do each of the following three things for a survivable future.

1) Dramatically reduce FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION. This is a massively entrenched problem that needs an industrial sized solution. I agree with the U.N and Paris Climate Accord that the only way to do this is with carbon taxes. This would then provide strong enough encouragement for the things you where talking about to happen. A portion of these taxes would be retroactive in the sense that the developed world which put most of the existing man made CO2 in the atmosphere would pay more than developing countries.
2) REMEDIATION of the forests, and probably also we will need remediation in the form of putting aerosols in the stratosphere for cooling. If these aerosols were basic (vs acidic) they would also help remediate the acidification of the oceans.
3) STABILIZE THE POPULATION. There are simply too many people on the planet such that we are overwhelming the earths human carrying capacity. Begin with free birth control, free abortions and free birth control education. Also encourage the idea of a ‘Birth Right’. Which is the idea that each person has the right to replace themselves with only one child. If a family wants to have more than that, they could get the Birth Right from someone who’s decided not to have children. That person would have the option of having an uncle role in the life of that child and family. This would help compensate for the reduction of relationships that would result from everyone having smaller families.

Just like a three legged stool that needs three legs to be stable, I think we need ALL of these three actions for any hope of a stable, survivable future for human kind. I have been inspired by the prophets of old to think along these lines and to then contribute to this group think we need to survive as a species.

Fellow Homo Sapien, Mark Olsoe