A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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We have known this since the very beginning - I mentioned it on our very first call that I was concerned about themcollecting and growing sampling from bats under BSL-2. This work is exactly that.To be clear, this type of work is approved under BSL-2 almost universally - I can do it at my lab here at Scripps (and,in fact, we have). I'm fully in agreement that further precautions are required, but a single paper like this changes nothing - again, it's no secret this is how it has been done and I/we flagged it on day 1. Adds credence to the fact that we should consider a lab leak, but doesn't change any of the data showing it isn't.
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I agree. Greg was definitely worried about a lab leak but was more concerned about putting in procedures to improve biosafety and I agree with that.
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I think we all agree: • Lab leak a potential concern • Actual data strongly pointing to no lab leak • Biosafety needs to be strengthened given how widespread SC1-like and SC2-like viruses are across SE Asia I don't think anybody with expertise would disagree on any of these points
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Totally agree.
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2021-11-26 13:55
Robert F. Garry
Me too - consistent from day 1.
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Yup - not my problem that people are now only discovering this and finding it scary. Typically this line of argument ispresented as if new information has been unearthed very recently and it's somehow new knowledge. Complete bollocks.
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Not to mention that certain Rhabdoviruses are literally the most deadly viruses on the planet...
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If this all came down to "what's the likelihood of a lab leak", then sure, all of this would be very concerning. However,we have to contend with all the "unlikelihood" that would have to happen _upstream_ and _downstream_ of anactual lab leak for that to explain how SC2 emerged in the human population, plus, of course, actual evidence. People love to focus on the "lab leak happens" part and then forget about everything else. If you live in that vacuum,sure, it can be hard to convince yourself that's not how this happened. Problem is, we don't live in a vacuum.
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Perhaps a commentary timed for shortly after the Zoonati paper discussing how, given the origins are now reasonably pinned down, important it is to separate the issues and make some sensible positions on lab risk (and aswe dicussed this morning the much greater risk from field work)