4 ms·
The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is kind of irrelevant, since both proposed origins could cause future pandemics and so we need to prepare for both kinds. Bump up all a
by pabs3 4y ago
The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is kind of irrelevant, since both proposed origins could cause future pandemics and so we need to prepare for both kinds. Bump up all animal virus research to BSL4 and mitigate/reduce interaction between humans and wild animal populations.
- uri4 4y agoI agree, do not understand the downvotes. What budget would evil organisation need to create dangerous virus similar to SARS-CoV-2? Is there a chance it may happen again?
- hedora 4y agoI'd guess someone with the right skills could cook up a new human disease for about $10K. I might be off by a factor of ten (in either direction). I imagine getting the balance of R value and virulence just right would be difficult; I didn't include that in my estimate. Pandemics come along every hundred years or so, so this will happen again unless we hurry up and exterminate all mammals (humans included). Alternatively, people could stop panicing. As pandemics go, Covid was extremely mild, and tools like contact tracing and mRNA vaccines will help us reduce the impact of the next one.
- unsupp0rted 4y ago> As pandemics go, Covid was extremely mild Citation from year 2025 needed
- HideousKojima 4y agoThe Wuhan lab is already BSL 4, that didn't prevent the pandemic (assuming it was the source). If the paper in the article is correct then what really needs to be done is a ban on gain of function research.
- pabs3 4y agoHmm, Wikipedia disagrees on their BSL level: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology#cite_ref-25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology#ci...
- killjoywashere 4y ago> bump all animal virus research to BSL4 Why? This is like saying all car repairs should be done in the same clean room that the Webb telescope was assembled in.
- unsupp0rted 4y agoIf a carelessly done car repair could kill millions and bring the world to a standstill for years?
- mhuffman 4y ago>Why? This is like saying all car repairs should be done in the same clean room that the Webb telescope was assembled in. Because most car repairs don't have a non-zero outside chance of ending the human species?