SARS-CoV-2 - the origin and spread in the human population - Part 1. The origin and spread of SARS-CoV-2

Objective: This paper contains an overview of information related to the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its characteristics, including mutational variability, and monitoring the virus's presence in the human population. Methods: A review of medical and biological literature from the PubMed/MEDLINE databases from 1998 to 2024 was performed regarding research on SARS viruses, particularly SARS-CoV-2. Results and conclusions: At the end of 2019, cases of a new virus were recorded in China, which within a few months, as a result of free population migration, was transferred to various regions in the world. In the first quarter of 2020, the World Health Organization announced the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In addition to the characteristics of coronaviruses, headed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, this manuscript contains several threads to provoke discussion, especially concerning the ethical aspects of “gain of function” research, which make pathogens more contagious, dangerous and lethal to humans. Attention is also paid to the essence of reliable work and documentation of scientific work.