US government terminates DEEP VZN program to research exotic virus, pathogens apprehending accidental outbreak

Apprehending an accidental breakout, the Joe Biden Administration has stopped funding for a research program to discover thousands of exotic pathogens from around the world. Notifying the termination of the research program, the US Agency for International Development said that amid objections from lawmakers and many scientists, the program has been closed down within two years of its inception. A USAID spokesperson said that the funding was stopped after the “relative risks and impact” were re-evaluated.

What was DEEP VZN?

Under the unique program called DEEP VZN -Discovery and Exploration of Emerging Pathogen-Viral Zoonoses program, more than half a million samples were to be collected from biological specimens across the world, and some 12,000 viruses from these samples were to be separated and studied further. Washington State University was leading the research program.

Covid-19 impacts DEEP VZN?

The spokesperson told the ‘Washington Post’ that the COVID-19 pandemic forced USAID and the U.S. government to assess priorities and approach to get prepared to handle and combat a pandemic.

For DEEP VZN

Supporters of DEEP VZN argue that the program could provide an early warning about wildlife pathogens that could someday make the jump to human beings. Scientists believe that the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolved from similar strains found in bats in southern China and Southeast Asia. The virus strain somehow jumped out and entered the human chain. A study could have warned earlier or helped prevent the strain from entering the human chain.

Against DEEP VZN

However, the opponents of the DEEP VZN program say that the research could lead to accidental infection and transmission of viruses or pathogens.
Before the DEEP VZN program, there were other U.S.-backed virus-hunting programs STOP Spillover and PREDICT. It was focused on research of exotic viruses and pathogens. It was replaced with DEEP VZN in 2021.

FAQs:

Q1. What was the DEEP VZN program?
A1. DEEP VZN -Discovery and Exploration of Emerging Pathogen-Viral Zoonoses program, was aimed at collecting more than half a million samples from biological specimens across the world, some 12,000 viruses from these samples were to be separated and studied further.

Q2. Why was DEEP VZN terminated?
A2. DEPP VZN was terminated after some lawmakers and scientists opposed the program apprehending accidental infection and transmission of these pathogens and viruses.