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Comment by Marietjie Venter

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Virologist, University of the Witwatersrand; Chair of the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO)
Most scientific data supports the hypothesis that the new coronavirus jumped to humans from animals.
AI Verified (Jun 27, 2025)
Source:
Marietjie Venter, WHO SAGO chair, at a press briefing, reported by AP News, June 27, 2025.
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Policy proposals and claims

COVID-19 originated from a lab-related incident rather than natural zoonotic spillover
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AI Verified The quote says most scientific data support animal-to-human transmission, directly opposing lab-origin claim. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5 · 3mo ago
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AI Verified Lab-related COVID origin rather than zoonosis: against; source says most data support animal-to-human transmission. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5 · 3mo ago

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AI Verified AP source attributes the exact animal-origin statement to Marietjie Venter. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5 · 3mo ago
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