The covid-19 lab leak hypothesis: did the media fall victim to a misinformation campaign?

@article{Thacker2021TheCL,
  title={The covid-19 lab leak hypothesis: did the media fall victim to a misinformation campaign?},
  author={Paul D. Thacker},
  journal={BMJ},
  year={2021},
  volume={374}
}
The theory that SARS-CoV-2 may have originated in a lab was considered a debunked conspiracy theory, but some experts are revisiting it amid calls for a new, more thorough investigation. Paul Thacker explains the dramatic U turn and the role of contemporary science journalism 
View on BMJ
bmj.com
19 Citations
Background Citations
4

19 Citations

Rethinking the pandemic narrative: An ordoliberal perspective
This article analyses the Covid‐19 pandemic narrative through the lens of the ordoliberal concept of interdependence of orders. This approach explains why the measures adopted eschewed market‐based…
'Who wants to silence us'? Perceived discrimination of conspiracy theory believers increases 'conspiracy theorist' identification when it comes from powerholders - But not from the general public.
We examined how individuals who may be labelled 'conspiracy theorists' respond to discrimination against 'conspiracy theorists'. In line with the Rejection-Identification Model (Journal of…
Trust in Institutions, Not in Political Leaders, Determines Compliance in COVID-19 Prevention Measures within Societies across the Globe
A core assumption often heard in public health discourse is that increasing trust in national political leaders is essential for securing public health compliance during crises such as the COVID-19…
Multiplicity and dynamics of social representations of the COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese social media from 2019 to 2020
Pandemics, past and present: The role of biological anthropology in interdisciplinary pandemic studies
TLDR
The distinctive social and epidemiological features of pandemics are discussed, as well as the ways in which biological anthropologists have previously studied infectious diseases, epidemics, and Pandemics, to discuss the current state of pandemic research.
Cross-sectional genomic perspective of epidemic waves of SARS-CoV-2: A pan India study
Superspreading and Heterogeneity in Epidemics
Molecules and colloids spread through fluids, genes spread through species, idioms through vernacular communities, and fads and pathogens through social networks. . . That erratic dynamics on a…
An appeal for an objective, open, and transparent scientific debate about the origin of SARS-CoV-2
Codon usage pattern reveals SARS-CoV-2 as a monomorphic pathogen of hybrid origin with role of silent mutations in rapid evolutionary success
TLDR
Systematic analysis of CUP of the coding sequences (CDS) of representative major pangolin lineages A and B of SARS-CoV-2 indicate a single transmission event of a codon-optimized virus from its source into humans.
People’s understanding of the concept of misinformation
...
...

References

SHOWING 1-4 OF 4 REFERENCES
Scientists ‘strongly condemn’ rumors and conspiracy theories about origin of coronavirus outbreak
TLDR
The rapid, open, and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumours and misinformation around its origins, according to a group of 27 public health scientists.
‘Heinous!’: Coronavirus researcher shut down for Wuhan-lab link slams new funding restrictions
Peter Daszak, president of the research organization EcoHealth Alliance, describes how he has been caught in political cross-hairs over his partnership with a virology lab in China. Peter Daszak,…
A SARS-like cluster of circulating bat coronaviruses shows potential for human emergence
TLDR
A potential risk of SARS-CoV re-emergence from viruses currently circulating in bat populations is suggested, and robust viral replication both in vitro and in vivo is demonstrated.
Investigate the origins of COVID-19