Over five years have passed since a mysterious virus emerged in Wuhan, China, and reshaped life as we knew it. From the first reports of illness to a global crisis, COVID-19 has become more than just a virus โ itโs a stark reminder of the deep inequalities in our healthcare systems and how vulnerable we all are to emerging threats.
But while weโve learned much, many questions remain.
As the virus continues to evolve, scientists are keeping a close watch. Hereโs a look at what weโve learned, whatโs still unclear, and where the virus stands today.
The Origin of COVID-19: A Mystery Still Unsolved
While weโve made great strides in understanding COVID-19, the question of how it started remains unresolved. The most likely theory suggests that the virus circulated in bats, then jumped to another speciesโlikely raccoon dogs or civet catsโbefore spilling over into humans, possibly through a market in Wuhan where the first cases were identified in November 2019.
This zoonotic transmission is not new; similar patterns were seen with the SARS virus in the early 2000s. But the exact origins of COVID-19 have yet to be definitively proven. A different theory posits that the virus may have leaked from a research lab in Wuhan, sparking ongoing debates and international tensions. Political hurdles, including a lack of transparency from China, have made it even harder for scientists to uncover the truth. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for more data sharing, urging China to fulfill its โmoral and scientific obligationโ to help prevent future pandemics.
We may never know the virusโs exact origin, but the search continues.
The Pandemic Death Toll: A Far Higher Number Than Reported
The official death count from COVID-19 is staggering, but itโs only a fraction of the true toll. The WHO reports over 7 million deaths, but experts estimate that the real figure could be at least three times higher, with millions more likely to have died indirectly due to the pandemicโs strain on healthcare systems. In Europe alone, nearly 2.3 million deaths have been reported since 2020, with older adults especially vulnerable.
โWe cannot talk about COVID in the past tense. Itโs still here,โ says WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Vaccines: A Lifesaver, but Not a Silver Bullet
The speed with which COVID-19 vaccines were developed remains one of the pandemicโs greatest triumphs. In less than a year, vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna received approval, saving millions of lives. Groundbreaking research on mRNA technology, including Nobel-winning discoveries, paved the way for these life-saving shots.
While vaccines have been highly effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalizations, and deaths, their protection against milder infections wanes over time. With the virus constantly evolving, vaccine makers are working to keep up. In addition to the mRNA vaccines, more traditional options like Novavax are also available, and countries continue to explore new ways to boost immunity, including nasal vaccines.
But even with these advancements, the process of regular booster shots continues to frustrate the public, particularly as the virus mutates.
The Virusโ Evolution: Omicron and Beyond
Like all viruses, COVID-19 evolves as it spreads, leading to new variants that sometimes take us by surprise. Early on, variants like alpha and delta caused concern due to their high transmissibility. But when omicron emerged in November 2021, it spread like wildfire, quickly becoming the dominant strain worldwide.
Although omicron was less severe on average than delta, its rapid spread created new challenges for public health. Since then, various subvariants of omicron have continued to emerge, each with its own set of mutations. The latest dominant variant in Europe, KP.3, along with a new recombinant strain, XEC, is currently being monitored. Fortunately, existing treatments and vaccines remain effective against these variants, though scientists continue to track the virusโ evolution closely.
Long COVID: The Silent Legacy of the Pandemic
For millions of people, the pandemicโs impact doesnโt end with recovery. Long COVID, a lingering set of symptoms that can last for months or even years, has left many in limbo. From debilitating fatigue and โbrain fogโ to pain and heart problems, the symptoms of long COVID can be invisible but life-altering.
What remains unclear is why only some people experience long COVID. It can affect those who had mild cases and occur in people of all ages, although studies suggest that vaccination can reduce the risk. One emerging theory is that remnants of the virus might persist in some peopleโs bodies, causing ongoing symptoms, though this doesnโt explain all cases.
As researchers continue to study the long-term effects of COVID-19, the hope is that better treatments will eventually emerge.
Editor’s Note: The pandemic may not be over, but with each passing day, we uncover more about how to live with it. The lessons learned, both the successes and the failures, will shape how we respond to future health crises. And though many mysteries remain, humanityโs resilience in the face of such a profound challenge continues to shine.
