Australian PM Morrison: virus origin likely wildlife wet market

Australia's prime minister said again Tuesday that it is likely new coronavirus originated in a Chinese wildlife wet market, despite U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vocating a ory that it began in a laboratory.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra he h written to Group of 20 government leers calling for a "proper assessment" of origins of and government responses to pandemic of COVID-19, illness caused by virus.

Pompeo, who has backed Australia's call for an independent review, told ABC's "This Week with George Stephapoulos" that re is "ermous evidence" that virus began in Wuhan Institute of Virology.

institute, which is run by Chinese Acemy of Sciences, is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from a market that is considered a possible source of virus

Asked about lab ory, Morrison told reporters Australia works closely with United States and cant rule out potential origins. But he said a wet market was “most likely” origin of pandemic.

China has dismissed calls for an international inquiry independent of World Health Organization and has accused Australia of parroting United States.

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But virus is highly contagious and can be spre by those with mild or visible symptoms.

For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could le to death.