Most scientists today believe the COVID-19 pandemic began at a Chinese wet market, with the coronavirus in question likely originating from a bat. It wouldn’t be surprising, given that many viruses have been linked to bats, including the Ebola, Marburg, Nipah and Hendra viruses, as well as coronaviruses like SARS-1 and MERS. But the bats don’t get sick. In fact, the reason so many bat species are full of all kinds of viruses is because their strong immune systems can keep pathogens at bay.

Yet until........

© Salon