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Fear of the coronavirus generates racism and xenophobia 2:12
(CNN) - Scientists around the world criticized and discredited conspiracy theories that the new coronavirus originates not in animals, but in a Chinese laboratory, according to a statement published today in the medical journal The Lancet .
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"We come together to strongly condemn the conspiracy theories that suggest that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin," the 27 authors wrote, citing studies by scientists in several countries that analyzed the genetic makeup of the virus.
These studies "overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, like many other emerging pathogens."
"The conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumors and prejudices that jeopardize our global collaboration in the fight against this virus," the scientists wrote in a statement.
CNN previously reported statements by Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas this week on Fox News saying that "this virus did not originate from the Wuhan animal market" and implies that it may have started in a laboratory not far away. "We have no evidence that this disease originated there ... but at least we have to ask the question," said Cotton.
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