Infectious Disease OutbreaksPathogen

COVID lab leak cognitive dissonance

April 1, 2026Jerome Adams

Jerome Adams argues it is inconsistent to claim COVID responses were an overreaction while also focusing heavily on lab leak and gain of function concerns, implying the severity premise should drive priorities.

I can't square the cognitive dissonance of those who insist we wildly overreacted to COVID... yet also obsess over “lab leak” + “gain-of-function.”
If a lab accidentally released a virus no worse than a bad cold, then don’t we have much bigger fish to fry?
I can't square the cognitive dissonance
we wildly overreacted to COVID
obsess over “lab leak” + “gain-of-function.”
don’t we have much bigger fish to fry?
Jerome Adams
COVIDrisk framing

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