Did Coronavirus Originate In A Chinese Laboratory?

Coronavirus’ origin lies in a Chinese laboratory? New study hints at the possibility of the coronavirus beginning its life in a research facility close to Wuhan.

Bats, Blood and Scientists

A new paper from the South China University of Technology written by scholars Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao alleges that the likely place of birth of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus is the Wuhan Center for Disease Control (WHCDC), just 300 yards away from Wuhan’s fish market.

The two claim that the laboratories were full of disease-ridden animals, among which quite a few bats, which are believed to be the origin of the disease. The paper mentions one researcher that was attacked by a bat and had bat blood “on his skin.”

The researchers describe that the only native bats are 600 miles away from Wuhan’s markets and the probability that they flew themselves over was close to null, backed by residents’ testimonies that deny consumption of bats.
The man who was attacked by the bat at the WHCDC had quarantined himself for two weeks following bat’s blood getting on his skin, as well another case of quarantine after a bat urinated on him, the report says.

“It is plausible that the virus leaked around and some of them contaminated the initial patients in this epidemic, though solid proofs are needed in futury study,” the paper said.

The coronavirus outbreak is yet to be effectively contained and dealt with, as close to 70,000 have been infected globally, with most of the deaths being in China. Despite not having substantial evidence to back up the claim, the two scholars’ report concludes that there’s quite a decent chance of the “killer coronavirus” originating from a Wuhan laboratory.