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Slack / Private Message Drop, p.1033 [SLACK_001247] · slack_pm:msg:10802

Page text: p.1033 · original PDF

Date
2021-11-26 13:56
Type
chat message · slack
recipient
Robert F. Garry, Edward C. Holmes, Andrew Rambaut
speaker
Kristian G. Andersen

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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.

In context

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  1. 2021-11-26 13:50 Edward C. Holmes open
    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.
  2. 2021-11-26 13:53 Kristian G. Andersen open
    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
  3. 2021-11-26 13:54 Edward C. Holmes open
    Totally agree.
  4. 2021-11-26 13:55 Robert F. Garry open
    Me too - consistent from day 1.
  5. 2021-11-26 13:56 Kristian G. Andersen
    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.
  6. 2021-11-26 13:56 Robert F. Garry open
    Not to mention that certain Rhabdoviruses are literally the most deadly viruses on the planet...
  7. 2021-11-26 13:58 Kristian G. Andersen open
    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.
  8. 2021-11-26 14:03 Andrew Rambaut open
    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)
  9. 2021-11-26 14:03 Kristian G. Andersen open
    Very good idea!

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