Looks like people are already making up H5N1 lab leak theories:

https://twitter.com/McCulloughFund/status/1783890342384685183

Urgent investigation is required to ensure that no laboratory leaks occurred.

My man is trying to intervene in the past. I suppose the investigation would be into time travel?

@PeterMillerc030 from the linked project:

https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=440252

it's not clear whether the serial passaging is done with low-pathogenic or highly-pathogenic virus, but this could be gain of function research.

GOF research has been done on H5N1: https://www.science.org/content/article/exclusive-controversial-experiments-make-bird-flu-more-risky-poised-resume (The link I followed from the article was for the Netherlands, which has good safety procedures. However, if the West is doing it, that raises the possibility that less-resourced labs may also be investigating.)

It does not need to have happened before market open, as long as it's continuous with the current outbreak.

Can you clarify?

@jskf if some scientists sample the currently circulating virus (assuming it's natural), make it more transmissible in humans and it gets out before the outbreak ends that's a YES, if the outbreak ends and the virus gets out in 5 years that's a NO

@CodeandSolder Strange choice, imo, but thanks for clarifying.