The lab had been sent a sample from a hospitalized patient in Wuhan who had some kind of lung infection. A researcher at the lab saw the sequencing results and recognized it as a variant of SARS on December 26, 2019. The researcher known as Little Mountain Dog decided to investigate more thoroughly before raising the alarm. At this point, Little Mountain Dog thought “this matter would pass soon” because she knew of only one infected patient. It may really be a new type of SARS!” she wrote… Little Mountain Dog wondered how the Wuhan patient got infected.

Source: Washington Post April 23, 2022 15:49 UTC