Chat message

Slack / Private Message Drop, pp.78-79 [SLACK_000292] · slack_pm:msg:00791

Date: 2020-06-13 15:13
Type: chat message · slack
recipient: Kristian G. Andersen, Robert F. Garry, Andrew Rambaut
speaker: Edward C. Holmes
Topics: Natural origin / zoonotic spillover Intelligence community assessments Furin cleavage site and molecular features Monkeypox sample smuggling case

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A few thoughts: (i) John clearly likes the lab escape angle and I guess will compile a list of compelling factoids; (ii)good idea from Bob to try and get an external body involved. Sir Jeremy's original idea was to get WHO involved and I'm not sure what happened there. I'll ask him again. Alas, the involvement of WHO will upset some people but Idon't know what else is feasible; (iii) to me, the pangolin story is crucial: the RBD looked 'anomalous' but then a littleof sampling of an animal what we would never have expected found it was there in nature; (iv) yes, there are some new data points but it is also very clear that we really need better sample of nature to sort this out. Doubtless there will be more bat viruses out there that fill in key positions, but if random animals like pangolins are in the mix (and these were smuggled into China from elsewhere) only god or George Gao knows what else is out there. Without more sampling we are still speculating to a large extent.

Extracted statements

Rule-extracted, not adjudicated. The grade says what may be done with each one; read the document above before relying on any of them.

Statement	Grade	Attribution	Stance
Alas, the involvement of WHO will upset some people but Idon't know what else is feasible; (iii) to me, the pangolin story is crucial: the RBD looked 'anomalous' but then a littleof sampling of an animal what we would never have expected found it was there in nature; (iv) yes, there are some new data points but it is also very clear that we really need better sample of nature to sort this out.	own voice, substantive	speaker_own	asserts
Doubtless there will be more bat viruses out there that fill in key positions, but if random animals like pangolins are in the mix (and these were smuggled into China from elsewhere) only god or George Gao knows what else is out there.	own voice, substantive	speaker_own	asserts

Statement

Grade

Attribution

Stance

Alas, the involvement of WHO will upset some people but Idon't know what else is feasible; (iii) to me, the pangolin story is crucial: the RBD looked 'anomalous' but then a littleof sampling of an animal what we would never have expected found it was there in nature; (iv) yes, there are some new data points but it is also very clear that we really need better sample of nature to sort this out.

own voice, substantive

speaker_own

asserts

Doubtless there will be more bat viruses out there that fill in key positions, but if random animals like pangolins are in the mix (and these were smuggled into China from elsewhere) only god or George Gao knows what else is out there.

own voice, substantive

speaker_own

asserts

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

2020-06-13 14:58 Edward C. Holmes open

Mornin'. Anything interesting happen overnight?
2020-06-13 15:13 Edward C. Holmes

A few thoughts: (i) John clearly likes the lab escape angle and I guess will compile a list of compelling factoids; (ii)good idea from Bob to try and get an external body involved. Sir Jeremy's original idea was to get WHO involved and I'm not sure what happened there. I'll ask him again. Alas, the involvement of WHO will upset some people but Idon't know what else is feasible; (iii) to me, the pangolin story is crucial: the RBD looked 'anomalous' but then a littleof sampling of an animal what we would never have expected found it was there in nature; (iv) yes, there are some new data points but it is also very clear that we really need better sample of nature to sort this out. Doubtless there will be more bat viruses out there that fill in key positions, but if random animals like pangolins are in the mix (and these were smuggled into China from elsewhere) only god or George Gao knows what else is out there. Without more sampling we are still speculating to a large extent.

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