Here's how society might react:
It might create fear and misconceptions about the virus, potentially hindering efforts to combat the disease.
Impact on Animal Research: The incident might lead to increased scrutiny and criticism of animal research practices. Animal rights advocates might use this event to push for more stringent regulations or even an outright ban on certain types of animal experimentation.
International Response: If the incident occurred in a country with less robust regulatory oversight, there might be international pressure on that country to improve its research practices and ethical standards.
In summary, the discovery of such an event would have profound consequences on various fronts and could trigger significant changes in scientific practices, ethics, and the public perception of research. It would serve as a wake-up call for the scientific community to strengthen ethical oversight and reinforce public trust in scientific endeavors.