Doctors and researchers from around the world, including Australia, have banded together to condemn conspiracy theories and rumours about the origins of COVID-19.

A number of theories have emerged claiming a Wuhan infectious disease laboratory engineered the virus, which then either deliberately or accidentally leaked out and started the epidemic.

The group of 27, including three Australian experts on infectious diseases, have published a statement in the Lancet to condemn the spread of misinformation.

“The rapid, open and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumours and misinformation around its origins,” the authors say.