Coronavirus:

[HONDO74]

Covid origin: Why the Wuhan lab-leak theory is being taken seriously
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57268111

Nearly a year and a half since Covid-19 was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the question of how the virus first emerged remains a mystery.

But in recent weeks the controversial claim that the pandemic might have leaked from a Chinese laboratory - once dismissed by many as a fringe conspiracy theory - has been gaining traction.

Now, US President Joe Biden has announced an urgent investigation that will look into the theory as a possible origin of the disease.

So what do we know about the competing theories - and why does the debate matter?

What is the lab-leak theory?

It's a suspicion that the coronavirus may have escaped, accidentally or otherwise, from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus was first recorded.

Its supporters point to the presence of a major biological research facility in the city. The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has been studying coronaviruses in bats for over a decade.

The laboratory is located just a few kilometres from the Huanan wet market where the first cluster of infections emerged in Wuhan.
Map showing location of Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan city

[img]What is the lab-leak theory?

It's a suspicion that the coronavirus may have escaped, accidentally or otherwise, from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus was first recorded.

Its supporters point to the presence of a major biological research facility in the city. The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has been studying coronaviruses in bats for over a decade.

The laboratory is located just a few kilometres from the Huanan wet market where the first cluster of infections emerged in Wuhan.

[img]What is the lab-leak theory?

It's a suspicion that the coronavirus may have escaped, accidentally or otherwise, from a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus was first recorded.

Its supporters point to the presence of a major biological research facility in the city. The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has been studying coronaviruses in bats for over a decade.

The laboratory is located just a few kilometres from the Huanan wet market where the first cluster of infections emerged in Wuhan.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Problem is that w/o cooperation from China (lots of luck there...), it might be difficult to pin much down. Bet everyone that worked in that lab and anyone that might have been involved at any level there have disappeared.

[robert.]

5 committees 3 years and half a billion dollars later. We'll be at the same place. No real answer a to how covid 19 happened.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

5 committees 3 years and half a billion dollars later. We'll be at the same place. No real answer a to how covid 19 happened.

Oh, I'm sure that some folks already think they know everything and will be willing to tell everyone.......

But, I'd be far more concerned about knowing the durability of the vaccines, whether we'll need yearly boosters, etc., and then whether we'll actually revive having a real response to future outbreaks of whatever.

[chuck]

But, I'd be far more concerned about knowing the durability of the vaccines, whether we'll need yearly boosters, etc., and then whether we'll actually revive having a real response to future outbreaks of whatever.

Agreed.

The blame game on where/how it got started is pretty useless at this point. Not going to bring back the dead or make it easier to fix.

Finding out who and how the response was bungled is another story. It seems the provincial government in China did everything in its power to downplay the outbreak, even to China's central government (really bad idea, Lucy you've got some splaining to do). This lead to delays in containment, even in China.

We already know how it was bungled elsewhere and is continuing to be bungled in some places. Finding those people and getting rid of them may be useful in tamping it down.

This is more like dealing with the aftermath of a large and deadly fire. I don't think anyone cares who struck the match. How everyone responded AFTER it got started is way more important in making sure it doesn't happen again.

[robert.]

The cat is so far out of the bag. It will take years to catch him. The damage runs beyond the virus. Imagine 2022. We get hit with with a different pandemic.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The cat is so far out of the bag. It will take years to catch him. The damage runs beyond the virus. Imagine 2022. We get hit with with a different pandemic.

How everyone responded AFTER it got started is way more important in making sure it doesn't happen again.

Both combined are what is needed now.......if this is really "over"..........

[robert.]

In California campers burn 100,000 of acres a year. Most of the time by accident. My do we still allow them to have campfires?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

My do we still allow them to have campfires?

Presume, "Why do we still allow them to have campfires?"

State and Nat'l parks can restrict that, but realistically enforcing it is probably next to impossible given manpower and acres of space. Maybe arresting and fining the dickens out of them would be a start.


Just make a list to fill in: "Why do we still allow them to _______________?"

Should take a few weeks....

[robert.]

Yes "Why" I'm having a terrible time posting with my cellphone. Not anything with MTJ. My eyes the screen and my fat thumbs. It's really a PITA using a cellphone.

[gregj410]

In California campers burn 100,000 of acres a year. Most of the time by accident. My do we still allow them to have campfires?

It probably has less to do with campfires and more to do with poorly managed forests. Although you’d wonder why a camper would risk a campfire in a tinder box. Rarely do you hear of these fires anywhere else in the country.

[v8vega]

In California campers burn 100,000 of acres a year. Most of the time by accident. My do we still allow them to have campfires?

Homeless, not campers

[Rufus T. Firefly]

In California campers burn 100,000 of acres a year. Most of the time by accident. My do we still allow them to have campfires?

It probably has less to do with campfires and more to do with poorly managed forests. Although you’d wonder why a camper would risk a campfire in a tinder box. Rarely do you hear of these fires anywhere else in the country.

Really? Colorado was hit with some of the largest in state history just last year - over 500,000 acres burned by just 3 fires. Smoke was so bad that it was affecting people in Denver.

Arizona had better than 700,000 acres burned by ~ 1600 fires in 2020.......another record setting year.....

New Mexico had their share in 2020 as well....

Maryland got off light last year - only 76 fires and just over 1400 acres burnt.

Poorly managed forests - funniest excuse ever. Generally used by elitists that have never actually been in a real forest. They naturally have these things we call trees and brush and underbrush in them. They don't have maids sweeping and vacuuming everything up.

[Neil]

Drought is a lot more important than people in causing fires. People can make it worse but lightning isn’t a liberal problem.

[HONDO74]

China's stonewalling pushed Biden to reveal latest intelligence probe of Covid origins
https://news.yahoo.com/chinas-stonewall ... 30771.html

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden's decision to announce an intensified 90-day review into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic came about in part because of the Chinese government's refusal to participate in an investigation by the World Health Organization, a source familiar with the decision said.

Biden asked the intelligence community in a statement Wednesday to redouble its efforts to get to the bottom of the origins of Covid-19 after new reports raised questions about whether it spread from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.