I think understanding the origin is important, but I also understand why it wasn't a media fixation during the pandemic itself.
1) Understanding the origin doesn't change the consequences or response to the pandemic
2) Unlike the nuclear analogy in the article, pandemic virus outbreaks happen naturally, and fairly frequently. Combined with the huge increase in global travel, when one does happen it can be around the world in every airport before anyone has even identified it.
So in the big picture this type of outbreak seems inevitable, not anomalous or inherently preventable.
Understanding the origin, either by cross-species origination or a laboratory containment breach, is indeed important and significant and should be pursued, but I also understand why the search for that answer isn't at the top of the 24-hour news cycle.
1) Understanding the origin doesn't change the consequences or response to the pandemic
2) Unlike the nuclear analogy in the article, pandemic virus outbreaks happen naturally, and fairly frequently. Combined with the huge increase in global travel, when one does happen it can be around the world in every airport before anyone has even identified it.
So in the big picture this type of outbreak seems inevitable, not anomalous or inherently preventable.
Understanding the origin, either by cross-species origination or a laboratory containment breach, is indeed important and significant and should be pursued, but I also understand why the search for that answer isn't at the top of the 24-hour news cycle.