Conspiracy theories spreading online have claimed that the virus, which has claimed almost 1,400 lives in China, was made as a biological weapon and released by accident. ... Its mutations appear to be
natural evolution rather than any bizarre or unexpected changes,
according to Dr Trevor Bedford at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center in Seattle, Washington. ... One of the triggers of the man-made virus
theory was a scientific paper published by researchers in India which
said the virus looked suspiciously similar to HIV. The paper has since been taken back but the rumours it started continue to circulate online.
The story promotes the missing link theory of transmission from bats to humans via an unknown animal.
60,000+ cases.
1,523 dead.
