The theory that the coronavirus escaped from a Chinese laboratory has returned to the forefront lately. In fact, US intelligence services are still examining reports that researchers at a virology laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan became seriously ill in 2019, a month before the first COVID-19 cases were reported.
Now the top U.S. health official, infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci calls on China to provide medical records of nine people whose illnesses could provide vital clues as to whether COVID-19 first appeared as a result of a laboratory leak, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
“I would like to see the medical records of the three people who allegedly fell ill in 2019. They did get sick, and if so, from what [ποια αρρώστια];» said Fauci, according to the newspaper, for three of the nine.
Chinese scientists and officials consistently reject the case of leakage of the virus from a laboratory, saying the virus may have been circulating in other areas before it ‘hit’ Uhan and may even have entered China through consignments of imported food or wildlife trade.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin declined to comment directly on whether China would give access to the nine files but vehemently denied that the lab was linked to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Conspiracy theory” about laboratory leakage
In today’s regular press conference, he referred to a March 23 statement from the Institute of Virology of Ohan which reported that no staff member or graduate was confirmed to have been infected with the virus, according to Reuters and the Athens News Agency.
Wang reiterated China’s position that reports of laboratory leaks were a “conspiracy theory.”
The Financial Times reported that Fauci still believes the virus was first transmitted to humans through animals, noting that even if the laboratory researchers did have COVID-19, they could have contracted the disease from the general population.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
