101 East

The Virus Hunters

As the COVID pandemic continues to sweep the world, global scientists search for the source of the deadly virus.

More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic started, its origins remain shrouded in mystery. Scientists from across the world are searching for clues on how the coronavirus jumped from animals to humans.

In China, public data on the virus’s source is tightly controlled. As cases rise, conspiracy theories abound, with the US accusing China of manufacturing the virus and leaking it in a laboratory accident. Other virologists are investigating if exotic animals could be to blame, with wildlife trafficking a key suspect in the virus’s transmission.

101 East meets the virus hunters searching for the roots of a deadly pandemic.