<p>A lab in Montana, United States under acclaimed American immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci was reportedly experimenting with coronaviruses brought from a lab in China's Wuhan which is thought to be the source of the Covid pandemic by some.&nbsp;The revelation was made after a research paper published in the journal Viruses in 2018 resurfaced which revealed the existence as well as the nature of experiments conducted there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reportedly infected 12 Egyptian fruit bats with a 'SARS-like' virus called WIV1 at a lab in Montana in 2018.</p>

<p>The revelation simply links the US government and the Wuhan Lab alongside the corresponding funding of dangerous virus research across the globe.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-chief-urges-china-for-full-access-to-determine-covids-origins-report-636919">WHO again asks China for 'full access' to determine Covid's origins: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>The paper - SARS-Like Coronavirus WIV1-CoV Does Not Replicate in Egyptian Fruit Bats - was published in the journal Viruses in 2018. The study was flagged by DRASTIC, a group of online activists who investigate the origins of the Covid pandemic and call their initiative the White Coat Waste Project.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Between Wuhan and Montana: The 2018 experiment</strong></h2>

<p>The experiment in 2018 was carried out at the NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana. The lab was overseen by Dr Anthony Fauci. The research was a joint project between the NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Wuhan Institute of Virology collaborator Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists took 12 Egyptian fruit bats from a zoo and inoculated them with the WIV1-coronavirus, a coronavirus first detected in Chinese rufous horseshoe bats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Researchers concluded that the WIV1-coronavirus did not cause 'a robust infection' and 'observed very limited evidence of virus replication'.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-origin-china-began-developing-two-vaccines-before-official-outbreak-583797">Covid origin: China began developing two vaccines before official outbreak</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-origin-china-began-developing-two-vaccines-before-official-outbreak-583797/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The Catocin Wildlife Preserve, from where the bats were sourced, has had a history of animal rights violations. It is located just 15 minutes away from Camp David, a 125-acre country retreat for the President of the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Records cited by Daily Mail show the preserve confined 523 federally-regulated animals as of April 2023, including 241 bats, of which 41 were Egyptian fruit bats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most of the world's gain-of-function virus research is conducted in the United States. Such research involves making pathogens more infectious purportedly to ensure that scientists remain ahead of future outbreaks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, such research has been criticised by experts who say it&nbsp;leads to risks of&nbsp;a viral leak outweighing any potential benefits.</p>


A lab in Montana, United States under acclaimed American immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci was reportedly experimenting with coronaviruses brought from a lab in China's Wuhan which is thought to be the source of the Covid pandemic by some.

A lab in Montana, United States under acclaimed American immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci was reportedly experimenting with coronaviruses brought from a lab in China's Wuhan which is thought to be the source of the Covid pandemic by some. The revelation was made after a research paper published in the journal Viruses in 2018 resurfaced which revealed the existence as well as the nature of experiments conducted there. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reportedly infected 12 Egyptian fruit bats with a 'SARS-like' virus called WIV1 at a lab in Montana in 2018. The revelation simply links the US government and the Wuhan Lab alongside the corresponding funding of dangerous virus research across the globe. Also read | WHO again asks China for 'full access' to determine Covid's origins: Report The paper - SARS-Like Coronavirus WIV1-CoV Does Not Replicate in Egyptian Fruit Bats - was published in the journal Viruses in 2018. The study was flagged by DRASTIC, a group of online activists who investigate the origins of the Covid pandemic and call their initiative the White Coat Waste Project. Between Wuhan and Montana: The 2018 experiment The experiment in 2018 was carried out at the NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana. The lab was overseen by Dr Anthony Fauci. The research was a joint project between the NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratories and Wuhan Institute of Virology collaborator Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina. Scientists took 12 Egyptian fruit bats from a zoo and inoculated them with the WIV1-coronavirus, a coronavirus first detected in Chinese rufous horseshoe bats. Researchers concluded that the WIV1-coronavirus did not cause 'a robust infection' and 'observed very limited evidence of virus replication'. Also watch | Covid origin: China began developing two vaccines before official outbreak × The Catocin Wildlife Preserve, from where the bats were sourced, has had a history of animal rights violations. It is located just 15 minutes away from Camp David, a 125-acre country retreat for the President of the United States. Records cited by Daily Mail show the preserve confined 523 federally-regulated animals as of April 2023, including 241 bats, of which 41 were Egyptian fruit bats. Most of the world's gain-of-function virus research is conducted in the United States. Such research involves making pathogens more infectious purportedly to ensure that scientists remain ahead of future outbreaks. However, such research has been criticised by experts who say it leads to risks of a viral leak outweighing any potential benefits.

How dangerously US played with coronaviruses? Lab under Fauci tied up with Wuhan institute for viral research

<p>A former top Chinese government scientist has said that Covid lab leak theory should not be ruled out, as he again tried to revive the debate over the origins of the virus.</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">In an interview for BBC Radio 4,&nbsp;Prof George Gao, who was the head of China's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), said that when the lab leak theory gained prominence at that time, the Chinese government conducted a formal inquiry into the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).</p>

<p dir="ltr">"The government organised something," he was quoted as saying, in the first such official acknowledgement that the lab leak possibility was viewed seriously by the government, despite repeatedly refuting such claims. As a former head of China's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Gao has played a key role in the pandemic response and efforts to trace its origins.</p>

<p dir="ltr">He, however, clarified that it did not involve his own department, the China CDC.</p>

<p dir="ltr">“You can always suspect anything. That's science. Don't rule out anything.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">Gao said that though he has not seen the result, he has "heard" that the lab was given a clean bill of health.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"I think their conclusion is that they are following all the protocols. They haven't found [any] wrongdoing."</p>

<h2><strong>Gravitas: Wuhan Virus wave grips China, again</strong></h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-wuhan-virus-wave-grips-china-again-596928/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p dir="ltr">Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Market and the adjoining hospitals were the focus of the probe for a potential explanation for the virus during the early phase of the pandemic.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The World Health Organization, in its preliminary investigation, said it was “extremely unlikely” the virus leaked from a lab.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Demands for a second phase of the investigation, involving audits of laboratories in the Wuhan area, were rejected by the Chinese government.</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Covid origin debates still unresolved&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">It has been widely established that Covid virus emanated from bats, but how it got transmitted to humans has so far remained a mystery.</p>

<p dir="ltr">One theory argues that the virus spread naturally from bats to humans, most likely through other animals. Many scientists believe that there is reasonable evidence to suggest this scenario.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The other theory, which the West propounds, is that there is enough evidence to suggest that the virus was engineered as part of research and that someone involved in it was first infected. It was further claimed that the Huanan Seafood Market was connected to many of the early cases, people who worked or shopped there.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The comments from the top Chinese scientist corroborate the FBI’s assessment that the virus most likely originated in a Chinese government-controlled lab.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident," FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News in March.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


A former top Chinese government scientist has said that Covid lab leak theory should not be ruled out, as he again tried to revive the debate over the origins of the virus.

A former top Chinese government scientist has said that Covid lab leak theory should not be ruled out, as he again tried to revive the debate over the origins of the virus. In an interview for BBC Radio 4, Prof George Gao, who was the head of China's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), said that when the lab leak theory gained prominence at that time, the Chinese government conducted a formal inquiry into the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). "The government organised something," he was quoted as saying, in the first such official acknowledgement that the lab leak possibility was viewed seriously by the government, despite repeatedly refuting such claims. As a former head of China's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Gao has played a key role in the pandemic response and efforts to trace its origins. He, however, clarified that it did not involve his own department, the China CDC. “You can always suspect anything. That's science. Don't rule out anything.” Gao said that though he has not seen the result, he has "heard" that the lab was given a clean bill of health. "I think their conclusion is that they are following all the protocols. They haven't found [any] wrongdoing." Gravitas: Wuhan Virus wave grips China, again Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Market and the adjoining hospitals were the focus of the probe for a potential explanation for the virus during the early phase of the pandemic. The World Health Organization, in its preliminary investigation, said it was “extremely unlikely” the virus leaked from a lab. Demands for a second phase of the investigation, involving audits of laboratories in the Wuhan area, were rejected by the Chinese government. Covid origin debates still unresolved It has been widely established that Covid virus emanated from bats, but how it got transmitted to humans has so far remained a mystery. One theory argues that the virus spread naturally from bats to humans, most likely through other animals. Many scientists believe that there is reasonable evidence to suggest this scenario. The other theory, which the West propounds, is that there is enough evidence to suggest that the virus was engineered as part of research and that someone involved in it was first infected. It was further claimed that the Huanan Seafood Market was connected to many of the early cases, people who worked or shopped there. The comments from the top Chinese scientist corroborate the FBI’s assessment that the virus most likely originated in a Chinese government-controlled lab. "The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident," FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News in March. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Top Chinese scientist says don't rule out Covid lab leak theory

<p>A classified and updated document presented to the US lawmakers and White House has claimed that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak, reports Wall Street Journal newspaper.</p>

<p>The report, which was prepared by the US energy department in 2021, was recently updated following inputs received from the office of National Intelligence director Avril Haines.</p>

<p>However, the department deemed its level of confidence in its assessment as “low,” people who read the report told the WSJ.</p>

<p>The report reaffirmed the belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was not caused by a Chinese biological weapons program, WSJ reported quoting officials who read the document.</p>

<p>It follows a 2021 report by the FBI which had also determined that the virus was part of a lab leak, albeit with “moderate confidence”. The US officials told WSJ that the FBI’s assessment is different from the one made by the energy department.</p>

<p>But the officials declined to provide further information as to what led the energy department to change its position over the years.</p>

<h2><strong>'Covid lab leak theory as credible as natural origins explanation', says US</strong></h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-lab-leak-theory-as-credible-as-natural-origins-explanation-says-us-398904/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Four other federal agencies, however, disagree with the energy department’s assessment. While two of them believe with “low confidence” the virus was transmitted naturally through animals, the rest, including the CIA, remain undecided.</p>

<p>Reacting to the classified report, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there is “not a definitive answer" on the virus’ origins.</p>

<p>“Some elements of the intelligence community have reached conclusions on one side, some on the other, a number of them have said they just don't have enough information to be sure,” Sullivan told CNN on Sunday.</p>

<p>“President Biden has directed, repeatedly, every element of our intelligence community to put effort and resources behind getting to the bottom of this question… But right now, there is not a definitive answer that has emerged from the intelligence community on this question.”</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


A classified and updated document presented to the US lawmakers and White House has claimed that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak, reports Wall Street Journal newspaper.

A classified and updated document presented to the US lawmakers and White House has claimed that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak, reports Wall Street Journal newspaper. The report, which was prepared by the US energy department in 2021, was recently updated following inputs received from the office of National Intelligence director Avril Haines. However, the department deemed its level of confidence in its assessment as “low,” people who read the report told the WSJ. The report reaffirmed the belief that the COVID-19 pandemic was not caused by a Chinese biological weapons program, WSJ reported quoting officials who read the document. It follows a 2021 report by the FBI which had also determined that the virus was part of a lab leak, albeit with “moderate confidence”. The US officials told WSJ that the FBI’s assessment is different from the one made by the energy department. But the officials declined to provide further information as to what led the energy department to change its position over the years. 'Covid lab leak theory as credible as natural origins explanation', says US Four other federal agencies, however, disagree with the energy department’s assessment. While two of them believe with “low confidence” the virus was transmitted naturally through animals, the rest, including the CIA, remain undecided. Reacting to the classified report, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there is “not a definitive answer" on the virus’ origins. “Some elements of the intelligence community have reached conclusions on one side, some on the other, a number of them have said they just don't have enough information to be sure,” Sullivan told CNN on Sunday. “President Biden has directed, repeatedly, every element of our intelligence community to put effort and resources behind getting to the bottom of this question… But right now, there is not a definitive answer that has emerged from the intelligence community on this question.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

COVID-19 virus likely was a result of lab leak, US energy department’s report says

<p>The origins of COVID-19 have been brought into question again after fresh global interest in enquiries into whether it may have leaked from a lab in Wuhan. Now, a report by a US government national laboratory claims that the lab-leak hypothesis is plausible, urging further investigation into the virus’ origins.</p>

<p>Reported first by the Wall Street Journal, the&nbsp; study was undertaken over the course of May 2020 by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. After completion, the study was forwarded to the US State Department during the last days of Donald Trump’s presidency, when interest in the lab-leak theory was starting to brew again.</p>

<p>According to WSJ, the lab based their assessment on the genomic analysis of COVID-19 virus.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-the-lab-leak-theory-389670/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Scientists across the world have now joined the chorus in demanding further enquiry, especially after US President Joe Biden ordered aides to probe the virus’ origins.&nbsp;American agencies posit two scenarios - that the virus leaked from the lab due to a malfunction or that the virus spread among humans after contact with an infected animal. No conclusions have been drawn yet.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/fauci-calls-on-china-to-release-medical-records-of-wuhan-lab-workers-report-389348" hreflang="en">Fauci calls on China to release medical records of Wuhan lab workers: Report</a></p>

<p>An earlier report by The Wall Street Journal released on Monday alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were sick with Covid-like symptoms before the outbreak in November 2019, for which they sought medical care.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US top infectious disease expert Fauci has urged further probe into the virus' origins after coming under the radar for alleged connections with the Wuhan laboratory.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, US officials claim that China has not been transparent about the origins of&nbsp;COVID-19. Beijing has continued to denied this charge, claiming that the virus emerged naturally. On Monday, a World Health Organization official, Mike Ryan said that the agency cannot force China to reveal more details on the origins of the pandemic, but revealed plans to commission further probes into the same.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/fauci-admits-wuhan-lab-received-modest-funds-from-us-amid-calls-for-probe-into-covid-origins-387497" hreflang="en">Fauci admits Wuhan lab received 'modest' funds from US amid calls for probe into Covid origins</a></p>


The origins of COVID-19 have been brought into question again after fresh global interest in enquiries into whether it may have leaked from a lab in Wuhan. Now, a report by a US government national laboratory claims that the lab-leak hypothesis is plausible, urging further investigation into the virus’ origins.

The origins of COVID-19 have been brought into question again after fresh global interest in enquiries into whether it may have leaked from a lab in Wuhan. Now, a report by a US government national laboratory claims that the lab-leak hypothesis is plausible, urging further investigation into the virus’ origins. Reported first by the Wall Street Journal, the study was undertaken over the course of May 2020 by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. After completion, the study was forwarded to the US State Department during the last days of Donald Trump’s presidency, when interest in the lab-leak theory was starting to brew again. According to WSJ, the lab based their assessment on the genomic analysis of COVID-19 virus. Scientists across the world have now joined the chorus in demanding further enquiry, especially after US President Joe Biden ordered aides to probe the virus’ origins. American agencies posit two scenarios - that the virus leaked from the lab due to a malfunction or that the virus spread among humans after contact with an infected animal. No conclusions have been drawn yet. Also read: Fauci calls on China to release medical records of Wuhan lab workers: Report An earlier report by The Wall Street Journal released on Monday alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were sick with Covid-like symptoms before the outbreak in November 2019, for which they sought medical care. US top infectious disease expert Fauci has urged further probe into the virus' origins after coming under the radar for alleged connections with the Wuhan laboratory. Meanwhile, US officials claim that China has not been transparent about the origins of COVID-19. Beijing has continued to denied this charge, claiming that the virus emerged naturally. On Monday, a World Health Organization official, Mike Ryan said that the agency cannot force China to reveal more details on the origins of the pandemic, but revealed plans to commission further probes into the same. Also read: Fauci admits Wuhan lab received 'modest' funds from US amid calls for probe into Covid origins

Coronavirus may have leaked from a lab in Wuhan, US report reveals