An epidemiologist makes the case that a rush of research to stop a swine flu outbreak led to an accidental lab release of an extinct virus. Preparing for one pandemic triggered a different one.
Articles on Lab leak hypothesis
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In an age of antibiotics and scientific reason, we like to think we’re more rational than our forebears. But the early history of conspiracy theories suggests some behaviours persist through time.
For the lab leak theory to be true, SARS-CoV-2 must have been present in the Wuhan Institute of Virology before the pandemic started. But there’s not a single piece of data suggesting this.
It’s more evidence a lab leak is very unlikely.
Since the WHO’s investigation earlier this year, several papers have come to the same conclusion regarding the likely origins of SARS-CoV-2. Yet progress is too slow.
The sketchy history of international efforts to control bioweapons suggests that nations will resist cooperative monitoring of gene hacking for medical research.
Top contributors
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Professor of Medieval Literature, University of Otago
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Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh
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Public Health Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, University of Sydney
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Emeritus Professor, infectious disease ecology, Griffith University
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NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Professor of Virology, University of Sydney
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Professor of the Practice of Politics and Crown Family Director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University
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Dean Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Health Science and Policy, and of Epidemiology, at the School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh