Viral

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A new virus emerged in 2019, causing unprecedented disruption. Understanding its origins has become a pressing priority, yet nearly two years into the pandemic, the mystery surrounding SARS-CoV-2 remains unresolved and increasingly complex. In this insightful narrative, a scientist and a writer collaborate to uncover how a virus, closely related to those found in bats in subtropical southern China, began spreading in Wuhan, over 1,500 kilometers away. They confront the puzzling absence of typical outbreak indicators: no infected market animals, no initial cases among travelers, no ongoing epidemic in rural areas, and no rapid adaptation of the virus to humans. To unravel this mystery, the authors investigate the events from 2019 to 2021, examining animal markets, virology labs, and hidden records within archived Chinese theses and websites. They also analyze clues embedded in the virus's genetic code. This gripping detective story leads readers through a labyrinth of inquiry, where promising leads often turn into dead ends. Yet, as they delve deeper, the authors inch closer to uncovering a path that might finally illuminate the origins of this enigmatic virus.