US officials have quietly shut down DEEP VZN, a taxpayer-funded project aimed at hunting for new viruses, over fears that it could lead to another pandemic. DEEP VZN, which stands for Discovery & Exploration of Emerging Pathogens – Viral Zoonoses, was launched in October 2021 with the goal of identifying and studying novel pathogens in wildlife in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, critics, including officials from the Biden administration, expressed concerns about the potential risks of virus hunting and the origins of COVID-19. The project was abruptly closed in July 2023 without a public announcement. The closure of DEEP VZN was mentioned in a feature published in The BMJ by investigative journalist David Williams.
USAID’s DEEP VZN project aimed to hunt for viruses among wildlife in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The closure of the project was disclosed in a congressional budget document and was privately conveyed to Senate aides by USAID’s assistant administrator for global health. The project, launched in October 2021, was meant to continue until 2026. USAID stated that the research was not a priority for agency global health security at the time and that the decision to shut it down reflected the assessment of relative risks and impact.
The closure of DEEP VZN was met with criticism from various government figures, advisers, and officials. Concerns were expressed regarding the research into studying unknown viruses in high-risk areas. The Biden administration emphasized the need to rigorously evaluate the risks and potential benefits of research projects. Recent data revealed that multiple US entities provided NIH grant money to labs in China between 2015 and 2023, raising further concerns.
Virus hunting has been a contentious issue, and scientists have questioned its efficacy in preventing pandemics or developing lifesaving drugs. The risks associated with collecting animal-to-animal transmitted viruses, including potential accidents and unintentional infections, have raised concerns within the scientific community. The Government Accountability Office initiated an audit into DEEP VZN in response to a request from lawmakers, but it will not be completed until spring 2024.
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