World-renowned Taiwanese-American HIV/AIDS researcher David Ho leads four teams in developing virus treatments

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/03/05
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — World-renowned Taiwanese-American HIV/AIDS researcher David Ho (何大一) said in a recent interview that he does not think the novel coronavirus is a product of a lab, but there is no doubt that the virus originated in China.

"Based on our knowledge of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and different types of coronavirus found in animals, I believe without reservations that it [Wuhan coronavirus or COVID-19] came from China."

In an interview with VOA on March 5, Ho said that it is critical to find out where the virus came from so as to be better prepared for the next global epidemic. Ho also thinks that theories suggesting the virus emanated from the U.S. are highly problematic.

He attributes the large-scale coronavirus outbreak to China's lack of transparency and its tendency to refuse to take responsibility. Those deficiencies allowed the virus to spread in the crucial early stages.    [FULL  STORY]