WHO: A lab leak behind the corona pandemic cannot be ruled out

A natural jump from bats, via an intermediate animal, to humans?

Or a leak from the laboratory in Wuhan, China?

The first theory matches how the two previous corona pandemics, SARS and MERS, were spread - via different animals from bats to humans.

But the origin of the covid pandemic - which has killed more than four million people - remains unclear.

"Should have started in cave area"

Most scientists nevertheless agree that the virus likely came from bats.

And the lab in Wuhan has long researched corona viruses taken from bats in caves.

But that's why the pandemic should have started in that area, not in the megacity of Wuhan 150 Swedish miles away, say those who believe in a lab leak.

How is it possible that an infected person traveled from the cave area to Wuhan without infecting a single person in his family or any fellow passengers on a train or plane?

Then a leak from the corona lab, in the ten-million city of Wuhan where the pandemic began, is more likely, reason those who believe in a leak.

"A too perfect virus"

It is strengthened by the fact that the scientists in Wuhan - artificially - tried to create a corona virus that can very likely infect people.

The intention has been the best: to produce a vaccine even before nature developed a new corona virus and thus reduce the damage of the next pandemic.

WHO chief: Accidents happen

But the level of security at the laboratory in Wuhan was, according to a report from the US Foreign Ministry, deficient.

And today WHO director Ghebreyesus says: "As an immunologist, I have worked a lot in laboratories and I know from personal experience that accidents happen".

Several researchers also point out that the covid virus is far too perfect for human cells to have evolved in nature.

But those who believe that the virus still developed in nature believe that this is how earlier corona viruses, such as SARS and MERS, developed.

And that the proponents of the lab-leak theory are more interested in gaining access to China politically than seeking the truth.

But regardless, more and more experts and politicians - who previously dismissed the theory of a lab leak - are beginning to waver in their previous belief that it was a politically motivated conspiracy theory.