In recent months, consideration of the so-called lab leak hypothesis has seemingly gained momentum By Jessica McDonald •
NBC Universal, Inc.
A year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic and with a death toll approaching 4 million lives how the coronavirus came to spark a global scourge remains unknown. Was it the result of a spillover from an animal to a human, as has happened repeatedly in the past? Or did the virus accidentally escape from a nearby lab in Wuhan?
The default answer for most scientists has been that the virus, SARS-CoV-2, probably made the jump to humans from bats, if it was a direct spillover or, more likely, through one or more intermediate mammals. That’s what happened with the coronaviruses responsible for SARS and MERS, and such zoonotic events are standard fare for emerging pathogens.
Where Did COVID-19 Start? The Facts and Mysteries of Its Origin
nbcchicago.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nbcchicago.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Facts – and Gaps – on the Origin of the Coronavirus
factcheck.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from factcheck.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.