British, US scientists call for further probe into Wuhan lab leak theory

London, May 14

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A group of leading UK and US scientists, including Indian-origin Cambridge University immunology and infectious disease expert Ravindra Gupta, on Friday called for more investigation to determine the origin of the Covid pandemic, including the theory of an accidental release from a lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

In a letter published in the journal ‘Science’, the experts from world leading universities such as Harvard, Stanford and MIT said knowing how Covid emerged is critical for informing global strategies to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.

They caution that hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers must be taken seriously until there is sufficient data. “Theories of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover both remain viable,” they write.

“We agree with the WHO DG, the US, the EU and 13 countries that greater clarity is necessary,” they note. — PTI