[OC] More Americans are believing COVID-19 originated from a lab in China. However, there is still no conclusive evidence to support one theory over another. The topic is highly politicizing both internally (US Political Parties) and externally (US-China relations).Submitted by Square_Tea4916 t3_11sthk3 in dataisbeautiful
SafeExpress3210 t1_jcfe3y1 wrote
Most prestigious institutions agree that a lab leak in China was most likely the cause.
Fluorescent_Tip t1_jcfihgt wrote
That’s not true. Just as many institutions believe it was natural, and none of them are especially confident in there conclusions. The more scientific leaning seem to think natural, whereas intel believes lab leak - not sure what is more prestigious.
AdventureBum t1_jd8yca4 wrote
What if it was a natural virus they were studying in a lab that accidentally got out?
SeaworthinessOk620 t1_jcfjrl5 wrote
What institutions support the natural idea?
Fluorescent_Tip t1_jcflc9y wrote
From Director of National Intelligence:
Four IC elements and the National Intelligence Council assess with low confidence that the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection was most likely caused by natural exposure to an animal infected with it or a close progenitor virus—a virus that probably would be more than 99 percent similar to SARS-CoV-2. These analysts give weight to China’s officials’ lack of foreknowledge, the numerous vectors for natural exposure, and other factors.
One IC element assesses with moderate confidence that the first human infection with SARS-CoV-2 most likely was the result of a laboratory-associated incident, probably involving experimentation, animal handling, or sampling by the Wuhan Institute of Virology. These analysts give weight to the inherently risky nature of work on coronaviruses.
Analysts at three IC elements remain unable to coalesce around either explanation without additional information, with some analysts favoring natural origin, others a laboratory origin, and some seeing the hypotheses as equally likely.
Variations in analytic views largely stem from differences in how agencies weigh intelligence reporting and scientific publications, and intelligence and scientific gaps.
SeaworthinessOk620 t1_jcfmwcu wrote
Interesting, can you provide a link? I would like to read more in the source of that info
Fluorescent_Tip t1_jcfnms1 wrote
They’re not saying much more:
[deleted] t1_jcgsv6d wrote
[removed]
notmyfault t1_jcfht90 wrote
What do you consider a "prestigious institution"?
SafeExpress3210 t1_jcfk9xg wrote
CIA, FBI, Committee on oversight and accountability
ignigenaquintus t1_jcfi3qk wrote
The committee on oversight and accountability may be one.
“Dr. Robert Redfield, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), testified how science indicates COVID-19 infections were likely the result of an accidental lab leak in Wuhan. His conclusion is based on the biology of the virus itself and unusual actions in and around Wuhan in 2019, including gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
Nicholas Wade—the former science and health editor at the New York Times, and former editor of Science and Nature—testified how Drs. Fauci and Collins used unverified data to dismiss the lab leak theory in favor of natural transmission.
Jamie Metzl testified how China’s government destroyed samples, hid records, imprisoned Chinese journalists, prevented Chinese scientists from saying or writing anything on pandemic origins without prior government approval, actively spread misinformation, and prevented an evidence-based investigation.
The mainstream media downplayed—and even denied—the scientific theory that COVID-19 emerged from the WIV.
Nicholas Wade testified about the campaign to discredit the lab leak theory. He pointed out that scientists kept in line with the natural origin camp led by Drs. Fauci and Collins because of their dependence on government grants and that the media failed to challenge the forced narrative.
All witnesses agreed that the possibility of COVID-19 originating from a lab is not a conspiracy theory.”
mynameismy111 t1_jcof25s wrote
No
SARS was initially present in an as-yet unknown animal reservoir, perhaps bats, and was passed to civet cats, relatives of the mongoose. Evidence shows that as it circulated in the civet cats, it gained mutations that allowed it to cross over into humans in 2002-03. More than 8,000 people worldwide became sick with SARS and 774 died.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8715
Apparently virus jumping from species to species isn't taught
Considering it already happened in 03 with SARS and most Americans don't know
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