Chat message

Slack / Private Message Drop, p.1034 [SLACK_001248] · slack_pm:msg:10805

Date: 2021-11-26 14:03
Type: chat message · slack
recipient: Kristian G. Andersen, Robert F. Garry, Edward C. Holmes
speaker: Andrew Rambaut

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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)

In context

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

2021-11-26 13:55 Robert F. Garry open

Me too - consistent from day 1.
2021-11-26 13:56 Kristian G. Andersen open

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.
2021-11-26 13:56 Robert F. Garry open

Not to mention that certain Rhabdoviruses are literally the most deadly viruses on the planet...
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.
2021-11-26 14:03 Andrew Rambaut

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)
2021-11-26 14:03 Kristian G. Andersen open

Very good idea!
2021-11-26 14:05 Kristian G. Andersen open

Make it clear that: (1) separate debate on biosafety in the light of how widespread SARSr viruses are, and (2) that continued investigations to understand their emergence is required, including figuring out exactly how SC2 poppedup (and SC1 for that matter).
2021-11-26 14:05 Edward C. Holmes open

Yup, I'm all for that.
2021-11-26 14:06 Kristian G. Andersen open

Let's do it - I actually think this is a really good idea.

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