And yet , patient zero likely not.Chinese officials said middle-aged accountant , surnamed Chen , developed symptoms December 8th , typically shopped supermarket across river.In May 2020 , George Fu Gao , director Chinese Center Disease Control Prevention , said , “ At first , assumed seafood market might virus , market like victim.The novel coronavirus existed long before. ” Among skeptics , many credentialled scientists , others amateur online sleuths—including full-blown QAnon conspiracy theorists—another theory took shape.Wuhan home Wuhan Institute Virology ( W.I.V . ) , , since first SARS epidemic , amassed one largest libraries bat coronaviruses world ; nineteen thousand samples stored labs.Its scientists collaborated closely international teams virus hunters , published leading academic journals , received hundreds thousands dollars research grants U.S. government .