Six months ago today, in the early hours of 12 January 2020, the first BBC TV News report ran about the death of man in China from a mysterious new disease. “Authorities say they’ve acted early and that the virus is contained.” How wrong the were
@jamesbbcnews introduced my story

Incredible how the seemingly-insignificant can go on to have major impacts. I remember pitching the story and am still amazed it got the green-light. “Man dies” not normally the kind of event you report on a global news channel. The unexpected can go on to truly be the unexpected

Makes me think of this poem:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.