Illegal biolab owned by China in California hiding pathogens labeled ‘HIV’, ‘Ebola’
Representational image of viruses like coronavirus, ebola and others.
A secret Chinese-owned bio lab in California was found to be hiding thousands of vials of various biological substances, which included some carrying the label "HIV" and a freezer marked “Ebola” which FBI and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had earlier refused to investigate, as per a House committee report released Wednesday (Nov 15).
The illegal lab was operational in California and the public safety risk it posed came to light in December 2022 when observant code enforcement officer Jesalyn Harper saw a green garden hose in a hole in the side of a warehouse which was believed to be vacant for more than a decade.
Inside the illegal lab, Harper found manufacturing devices, laboratory equipment, vials, medical-grade freezers and lab mice. The vials were labelled in English and Mandarin and in a code which remains undeciphered.
Also Read:Scientists warn catastrophic ‘Factor X’ virus waiting to be unleashed, might wipe out humanity
She further discovered several individuals wearing lab coats who identified themselves as Chinese nationals.
Bio lab investigated for nine months
)
'Affront to our sovereignty': Bangladesh slams India over Sheikh Hasina's Delhi press conference
)
The genetic roots of Tamils: 75,000 DNA markers decoded in latest study of Sangam-era settlement
)
Childhood home of Neil Armstrong up for sale | Gravitas
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Pradeep Rawat died at 74: Revisit the unforgettable roles that defined his career
)
Donald Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed a 'communist loser', seeks FBI probe into Michigan primary
)
‘Pakistan called for ceasefire, we kept them waiting’: Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan recalls Operation Sindoor
)
Ceaser Gastelum killed during TikTok livestream: What was his last recording?
)
Pentagon draws up new nuclear strategy in the event of war with Russia and China
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why are iPhones so expensive compared to Android phones?
)
American blogger Perez Hilton, covered in blood, cuts himself during livestream, hospitalized after distressing incident
)
Trump administration refunds $100 billion in tariffs after Supreme Court ruling
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Who is Shreya Kalra? Meet the social media star who lifted the Lock Upp 2 trophy
)
CJP's Saurav Das alleges YouTubers broke into his house, seeks Delhi Police action
)
Munir-protege Mohsin Naqvi’s claim of unearthing huge scam triggers tremors in Pakistan’s power corridors
)
Did military GPS jamming cause a plane to crash in New Mexico? Here's what a report says
)
What’s happening in Nepal? How did a local clash turn into communal violence? WION Decodes
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
Venezuela’s oil exports to India surge, restoring its role as a key energy supplier
)
Ghajini villain Pradeep Rawat passes away at 74 after battle with cancer
)
Mark Zuckerberg apologises to Indian government over harmful content, platform errors amid PM video row
)
'Dhoni Made Fleming Great': Panesar says ECB made the wrong choice for England Test coach
)
$1.3 trillion vanished from chip stocks in days and demand never fell
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian tanks are much lighter compared to US tanks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (August 3-9, 2026): Main Vaapas Aaunga, Uyir, Operation Safed Sagar- 6 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Ex top Pakistan official blames economic woes on China: Here's how CPEC became a failure
)
Sajeeb Wazed raises Indian security concerns, calls Bangladesh a 'failed state'
)
'World's most beautiful village' with only 627 people generated Rs 58 lakh in traffic fines in 2025
)
Scientists find descendants of ancient sea creatures trapped under Antarctica's Blood Falls
)
Strait of Hormuz deal with Oman being ‘finalised’: Iran’s foreign ministry
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Nvidia just put $5 billion into a company that has never shipped a product
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Lock Upp season 2: Most dramatic and viral moments that kept fans hooked
The discovery of Harper started a nine-month-long investigation by the city in which eventually Rep Jim Costa was roped in after the case was ignored by the FBI and CDC.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, in a 42-page report, wrote about the shocking findings in the alleged Chinese-owned research lab.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party had started its own investigation in September.
"Local officials spent months repeatedly trying to obtain assistance from the CDC,” the report states, adding that “the CDC refused to speak with them and, on a number of occasions, it was reported by local officials that the CDC hung up on them mid-conversation.”
Watch:Gravitas: 'Disease X' could be 20 times deadlier than the Wuhan virus
“Local officials were similarly unable to get any help from other federal agencies,” as per congressional investigators, which included the FBI. The local officials were informed by the FBI that “it had closed its investigation because the Bureau believed that there were no weapons of mass destruction on the property.”
With the help of Costa, CDC officials finally reached the Greeley bio lab and identified nearly 20 potentially infectious agents, which had many “serious or lethal human diseases.”
Some of the potentially infectious agents identified by the agency are SARS-CoV-2, Chlamydia, HIV, E. coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hepatitis B and C, Dengue virus, the Rubella virus and Malaria.
However, the CDC decided not to test samples or examine the vials which were not labelled, even after city officials decided to pay for the testing.
(With inputs from agencies)