Coronavirus Photo: VCG

 
There is no doubt that the novel coronavirus has a natural origin, according to two Russian virologists.

In an interview with CGTN, Dmitry Lvov, a Russian virologist and expert at the World Health Organization (WHO), said COVID-19 originated from nature and he has no doubt about that.

There have been sayings in Russia that the coronavirus could be man-made. But such remarks were made by some politicians instead of experts or professionals, according to him. "Just like President Putin has pointed out, the politicians are acting like they were virologists," he added.

The WHO expert also revealed that staff at the organization has been facing mounting pressures, including those from the U.S.

"The U.S. is trying to prevent us virologists from telling the truth about the epidemic," he said.

"I am a scientist. I don't believe hearsay. I only deal with facts. What I know is the antibodies of coronavirus have been found in people in many parts of the world before the outbreak," he added.

In an interview released by Russia-24 news channel in May, he said coronaviruses are primarily viruses associated with bats. "Someone could have been infected either in a room where a bat spent the night or in a cave where bats usually live in large numbers," he said.

"A person could have eaten some meat from animals that have ecological ties with bats, thus becoming the first source of infections," he added.

Rinat Maksyutov, director general of Russia's State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector, also said experts have no doubt about the natural origin of the novel coronavirus, TASS news agency reported in June.

The changes in the novel coronavirus amount to 20 percent compared with previous coronaviruses, he added.

The researcher pointed out that it is impossible for people to create such a virus, according to TASS.