[swores]

Or the scientists sensibly chose to build their lab near where novel viruses are expected to be found, to make studying them easier?

You'd probably, for example, find that charities studying/helping poverty are often found near where lots of poor people live - yet you wouldn't blame charities for creating poverty.

[baja_blast]

> chose to build their lab near where novel viruses are expected to be found

Then they should have built the lab 800 KM south west in Yunnan. The lab is there for the same reason we have labs in NYC major regional hub with many universities, the lab has been there since the 1950s. Researchers had to travel to places like Yunnan and Laos to collect samples.