Lab leak is the biggest suspect in 1977 flu pandemic. But it took 3 decades to gain currency

The reason why the Russian flu is believed to be have started with a lab leak is that the H1N1 virus that caused the pandemic was found to be closely related to human influenza viruses that circulated in 1949-1950. Since viruses are known to evolve continuously, this discovery, made in 1978, convinced many scientists that a preserved sample of the virus from mid-20th century found its way out of a lab. 

Over the years, alternative theories about the pandemic s origin one such theory is that the virus lay latent in an animal have been discredited by many scientists.

However, it took three decades for the lab leak theory to gain currency. No scientific paper has so far conclusively proven this theory.

via theprint.in

I did not know this. The Soviets were also most interested in germ warfare. It’s almost enough to make one think that trying to come up with ultimate weapons by tinkering around with deadly viruses in secret laboratories just isn’t a great idea.