Origin of Covid-19

[YGIFS 19449]

I thought the FBI was compromised/weaponized/incompetent and should be defunded?  But they're now the leading investigatory source on the biggest case on our planet in the last decade?  I haz confuse.

[Dahobbs 17527]

There is no news here. This is old shit being recirculated and mischaracterized by a grifter. 

[gsoda3 3248]

Sock or not, Fauci dissembled in sworn testimony to Congress. This is very clear at this point. 

What do you mean?

[Foosters 17842]

On 10/25/2023 at 7:58 AM, bernorange said:

John Stossel:

https://reason.com/2023/10/25/america-funded-it-rand-paul-blasts-fauci-and-the-media-for-suppressing-the-lab-leak-theory/

Per Rand Paul?

lol

[Bevo 13569]

https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/reps/icymi-dr-paul-pens-op-ed-for-fox-news-the-great-covid-cover-up-shocking-truth-about-wuhan-and-15-federal-agencies/

April 9, 2024

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a new op-ed for Fox News, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, discussed the fifteen federal agencies that knew the EcoHealth Alliance and Wuhan Institute of Virology were seeking federal funding in 2018 to create a virus similar to COVID-19.

You can read the op-ed published in Fox News here or below:

How vast was the Great COVID Cover-up? Well, my investigation has recently discovered government officials from 15 federal agencies knew in 2018 that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was trying to create a coronavirus like COVID-19.  

These officials knew that the Chinese lab was proposing to create a COVID 19-like virus and not one of these officials revealed this scheme to the public. In fact, 15 agencies with knowledge of this project have continuously refused to release any information concerning this alarming and dangerous research.

Government officials representing at least 15 federal agencies were briefed on a project proposed by Peter Daszak’s EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

This project, the DEFUSE project, proposed to insert a furin cleavage site into a coronavirus to create a novel chimeric virus that would have been shockingly similar to the COVID-19 virus. 

For years, I have been fighting to obtain records from dozens of federal agencies relating to the origins of COVID-19 and the DEFUSE project. Under duress, the administration finally released documents that show that the DEFUSE project was pitched to at least 15 agencies in January 2018.

What does this mean?

It means that at least 15 federal agencies knew from the beginning of the pandemic that EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology were seeking federal funding in 2018 to create a virus genetically very similar if not identical to COVID-19.

Disturbingly, not one of these 15 agencies spoke up to warn us that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been pitching this research. Not one of these agencies warned anyone that this Chinese lab had already put together plans to create such a virus.

Peter Daszak concealed this proposal. University of North Carolina scientist Ralph Baric, a named collaborator on the DEFUSE project, failed to reveal that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had already proposed to create a virus similar to COVID-19. 

And now we know that 15 agencies heard the proposal and when each agency discovered that COVID-19 was strangely similar to DEFUSE’s proposed virus creation, not one agency head stepped forward to warn the public that the virus might be man-made and therefore already adapted to transmit freely among humans.

Not surprising to some of us, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was not only briefed on Wuhan’s desire to create this virus, NIAID was actually listed as a participant in the initial DEFUSE pitch. Fauci’s Rocky Mountain Lab was named as a partner alongside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the proposal.

These documents also reveal that a scientist whose lab has received millions of dollars from EcoHealth was also part of the original plan to create these chimeric coronaviruses. This researcher, Ian Lipkin, also later became one of the authors of “Proximal Origins,” a journal paper commissioned by Fauci and National Institutes of Health head Francis Collins to throw shade on anyone arguing that the virus might have come from the lab. Yet, Ian Lipkin never revealed to the public the DEFUSE proposal. 

Did NIAID warn us? Did Anthony Fauci warn us? No! All lips remained sealed. 

Millions of people died from COVID-19. We now know that over 15 government agencies, as well as the investigators Peter Daszak, Ralph Baric, Ian Lipkin and scientists at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Lab, all knew of the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s desire to create a coronavirus with a furin cleavage site, a virus pre-adapted for human transmission.

And no one spoke up. We only know of this DEFUSE proposal because a whistleblower, one brave Marine, Lt. Col. Joseph Murphy, came forward with the truth.

Likely, hundreds of people in the government knew of this proposal to create a COVID-19-like virus and virtually every one of these people chose to keep quiet, to obscure, and ultimately to conceal information that might have saved lives by letting the world know this was no sleepy animal virus with poor transmission. 

No, all evidence suggests COVID-19 was a laboratory-enhanced virus purposefully adapted for human transmission.

Shame on all those who covered up the DEFUSE project! Of course, they all should be punished but likely won’t. At the very least, though, the perpetrators should be made to admit the truth and Congress should finally put in place sufficient oversight to make sure dangerous gain of function experiments are sufficiently vetted and, if necessary, prevented.

[Blotto 23491]

 

[Incredulity 11655]

21 hours ago, Bevo said:

https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/reps/icymi-dr-paul-pens-op-ed-for-fox-news-the-great-covid-cover-up-shocking-truth-about-wuhan-and-15-federal-agencies/

April 9, 2024

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a new op-ed for Fox News, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, discussed the fifteen federal agencies that knew the EcoHealth Alliance and Wuhan Institute of Virology were seeking federal funding in 2018 to create a virus similar to COVID-19.

You can read the op-ed published in Fox News here or below:

How vast was the Great COVID Cover-up? Well, my investigation has recently discovered government officials from 15 federal agencies knew in 2018 that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was trying to create a coronavirus like COVID-19.  

These officials knew that the Chinese lab was proposing to create a COVID 19-like virus and not one of these officials revealed this scheme to the public. In fact, 15 agencies with knowledge of this project have continuously refused to release any information concerning this alarming and dangerous research.

Government officials representing at least 15 federal agencies were briefed on a project proposed by Peter Daszak’s EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

This project, the DEFUSE project, proposed to insert a furin cleavage site into a coronavirus to create a novel chimeric virus that would have been shockingly similar to the COVID-19 virus. 

For years, I have been fighting to obtain records from dozens of federal agencies relating to the origins of COVID-19 and the DEFUSE project. Under duress, the administration finally released documents that show that the DEFUSE project was pitched to at least 15 agencies in January 2018.

What does this mean?

It means that at least 15 federal agencies knew from the beginning of the pandemic that EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology were seeking federal funding in 2018 to create a virus genetically very similar if not identical to COVID-19.

Disturbingly, not one of these 15 agencies spoke up to warn us that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been pitching this research. Not one of these agencies warned anyone that this Chinese lab had already put together plans to create such a virus.

Peter Daszak concealed this proposal. University of North Carolina scientist Ralph Baric, a named collaborator on the DEFUSE project, failed to reveal that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had already proposed to create a virus similar to COVID-19. 

And now we know that 15 agencies heard the proposal and when each agency discovered that COVID-19 was strangely similar to DEFUSE’s proposed virus creation, not one agency head stepped forward to warn the public that the virus might be man-made and therefore already adapted to transmit freely among humans.

Not surprising to some of us, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was not only briefed on Wuhan’s desire to create this virus, NIAID was actually listed as a participant in the initial DEFUSE pitch. Fauci’s Rocky Mountain Lab was named as a partner alongside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the proposal.

These documents also reveal that a scientist whose lab has received millions of dollars from EcoHealth was also part of the original plan to create these chimeric coronaviruses. This researcher, Ian Lipkin, also later became one of the authors of “Proximal Origins,” a journal paper commissioned by Fauci and National Institutes of Health head Francis Collins to throw shade on anyone arguing that the virus might have come from the lab. Yet, Ian Lipkin never revealed to the public the DEFUSE proposal. 

Did NIAID warn us? Did Anthony Fauci warn us? No! All lips remained sealed. 

Millions of people died from COVID-19. We now know that over 15 government agencies, as well as the investigators Peter Daszak, Ralph Baric, Ian Lipkin and scientists at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Lab, all knew of the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s desire to create a coronavirus with a furin cleavage site, a virus pre-adapted for human transmission.

And no one spoke up. We only know of this DEFUSE proposal because a whistleblower, one brave Marine, Lt. Col. Joseph Murphy, came forward with the truth.

Likely, hundreds of people in the government knew of this proposal to create a COVID-19-like virus and virtually every one of these people chose to keep quiet, to obscure, and ultimately to conceal information that might have saved lives by letting the world know this was no sleepy animal virus with poor transmission. 

No, all evidence suggests COVID-19 was a laboratory-enhanced virus purposefully adapted for human transmission.

Shame on all those who covered up the DEFUSE project! Of course, they all should be punished but likely won’t. At the very least, though, the perpetrators should be made to admit the truth and Congress should finally put in place sufficient oversight to make sure dangerous gain of function experiments are sufficiently vetted and, if necessary, prevented.

one question...

 

How many agencies??? not quite clear on that.

[YGIFS 19449]

Hey man, only time you worry about the Federal Government is when there's only one agency on the scene.  That's when you know something is rotten in Denmark.  

They tried to consolidate it all into one Oversight Group on the fly with that Pence-Fauci-Birx 'Task Force.'  And you saw how well that went.  The scientific community usually (and I mean that in proper metrical sense of the word), keeps in pretty good contact with one another (both private labs and government labs here and with our allies abroad).  But I remember watching State of Texas or White House press conferences and they'd give some cursory 5 minutes to like a Deputy Attorney General or Secretary of HUD or Air National Guard Colonel...and I just dumbfounded whey the fuck there mucking up the works.  Like "Are we gonna sue the virus, or find it FMAC loan, or napalm it out of existence?  Who the fuck are you people?"  

We'll be unpacking the spread, and the mutations, and the origins, etc. of this thing for decades.  Can you imagine what a shit show it was like 100 years ago during the last global pandemic when you had to wait a fortnight for a response from the other labs on their test results?  To that point, there's gonna be a whole other academic branch that breaks off to study the intra-agency, inter-agency, and international response at the administrative level (from continents to countries to states to counties to cities.  Gonna be a whole other container ship to unpack.  

[YGIFS 19449]

I'm not endorsing the stance, or even tacitly condoning it, but there may be strategic rationale for not internationally embarrassing/accusing China right now on our part because of what that may provoke in terms of a large-theater war in Taiwan.  But what does not get discussed much by the "What about China" crowd in the U.S. is who has less to lose by investigating/exposing China in Covid?  Europe (Taiwan would not be a NATO or EU concern, officially though I'm sure the Brits would have a stake in it given their historical involvement in the region).  Where is Australia/New Zealand in this China investigation?  Where is India?  Where is the Middle East?  Where are the more prominent Latin American countries?  Where is Canada?  Where is Russia?  Where is SE Asia?  Where are the 2 Koreas?  They all suffered as much as we did and don't have to walk on Taiwanese egg shells to get answers.  We're the global leader but when it comes to pandemics, superpower status doesn't mean much to a virus.  Why are all those leaders and countries and coalitions getting a pass when they've far less to lose by antagonizing China on the topic?  

[BurntEyes 5958]

54 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

But I remember watching State of Texas or White House press conferences and they'd give some cursory 5 minutes to like a Deputy Attorney General or Secretary of HUD or Air National Guard Colonel...and I just dumbfounded whey the fuck there mucking up the works.  Like "Are we gonna sue the virus, or find it FMAC loan, or napalm it out of existence?  Who the fuck are you people?"  

I largely agree with the entirety of your post, but this had me cackling and was absolutely quote worthy.

[wildcat09 29347]

Obvious CR post is obvious.

['stache 21798]

Don't give a single shit about anything coming out of Rand Paul's mouth. But setting that aside, let's suppose that someone can prove pretty strongly that China is responsible by either developing it and releasing it intentionally or negligently, or were negligent when it was discovered at a wet market, what next? Are we gonna go to war with China over the pandemic? We've had about a dozen and a half reasons to go to war with them over the years and haven't for fairly obvious reasons. So what does "holding China accountable" look like? It's a genuine question on my part, I just don't see what is supposed to happen, and why this would be different than the other bad stuff China does and has done over the decades.

[Incredulity 11655]

44 minutes ago, 'stache said:

So what does "holding China accountable" look like? It's a genuine question on my part,

I’d settle for an acknowledgment of the truth and some sort of international treaty not to engage in GOF research going forward.

[TwiceHorn 31440]

1 hour ago, Incredulity said:

I’d settle for an acknowledgment of the truth and some sort of international treaty not to engage in GOF research going forward.

Not familiar with the Chinese and the concept of "face" are ya?

[Hate 20106]

Now what if he is right about 15 Federal agencies not speaking up about what they knew…if these allegations are true?

[Bevo 13569]

1 hour ago, Incredulity said:

I’d settle for an acknowledgment of the truth and some sort of international treaty not to engage in GOF research going forward.

[Goredho 17397]

22 hours ago, Hate said:

Now what if he is right about 15 Federal agencies not speaking up about what they knew…if these allegations are true?

If they are true, produce the evidence.  Currently, the only thing presented in this thread is a political op-ed piece stating this as fact.  I think it mentioned documents proving all this?  I would love to read them.

[Neonmoon 38129]

This is a clip of China acknowledging the truth 

[YGIFS 19449]

Which Chinese made Covid?  

Little 12 year old girls in Wuhan working 18 hour days without proper protective gear or ventilation.  

Oh sorry, I thought you said Converse.  

Yeah signing an international treaty with China would totally work, they always stick to their end of the bargain.  

Edited April 17 by YGIFS

[Parliament 14247]

On 4/15/2024 at 5:03 PM, 'stache said:

Don't give a single shit about anything coming out of Rand Paul's mouth. But setting that aside, let's suppose that someone can prove pretty strongly that China is responsible by either developing it and releasing it intentionally or negligently, or were negligent when it was discovered at a wet market, what next? Are we gonna go to war with China over the pandemic? We've had about a dozen and a half reasons to go to war with them over the years and haven't for fairly obvious reasons. So what does "holding China accountable" look like? It's a genuine question on my part, I just don't see what is supposed to happen, and why this would be different than the other bad stuff China does and has done over the decades.

Well we’d definitely take them off our Christmas card list.

And next (every?) time we hear of some new virus in China we’d move much quicker to shut off travel from that shithole.

['stache 21798]

1 hour ago, Parliament said:

Well we’d definitely take them off our Christmas card list.

And next (every?) time we hear of some new virus in China we’d move much quicker to shut off travel from that shithole.

But then all the plastic shit at Walmart would cost three times as much. 

[Anastasis 23463]

On 4/15/2024 at 5:03 PM, 'stache said:

But setting that aside, let's suppose that someone can prove pretty strongly that China is responsible by either developing it and releasing it intentionally or negligently, or were negligent when it was discovered at a wet market, what next?

Crazy thought here, but maybe we stop using US taxpayer dollars to support off-shored risky virus research through funding cutouts without adequate audit procedures and  controls in place. This is like crazy world that these things are obvious.  

[Anastasis 23463]

I am shocked. 

 

 

[YGIFS 19449]

Remind me again in which branch of government DoD’s funding begins in again?  

[Anastasis 23463]

18 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

Remind me again in which branch of government DoD’s funding begins in again?  

Yes, first thing that comes to my mind as well when confronted with yet another breakdown in accountability and oversight at DOD.  

[YGIFS 19449]

So when there are legal questions of discretionary appropriations for The Pentagon…you take ‘em to court.  The People’s Court!  All rise!

[Homercles 10205]

Well that was it, I’m convinced.  

[gofuckyourself 8206]

2 hours ago, Anastasis said:

I am shocked. 

 

 

I like this. Seems like tacit approval for my next returns:

Dear IRS,

Due to limitations in my tracking systems, the full extent of GoFuckYourself's funds provided to tax-deductible activities is unknown. But just trust me, it was a shit-ton so I don't owe a thing.

Sincerely,

GoFuckYourself

[Anastasis 23463]

 

5 minutes ago, gofuckyourself said:

I like this. Seems like tacit approval for my next returns:

Dear IRS,

Due to limitations in my tracking systems, the full extent of GoFuckYourself's funds provided to tax-deductible activities is unknown. But just trust me, it was a shit-ton so I don't owe a thing.

Sincerely,

GoFuckYourself

Congress: Tell us where the money went.

DOD: We can't.

rEminD mE aGaIn wHeRE dOd fUNdInG oRiGinAtEs 

 

[Victor Lazlo 1776]

6 hours ago, Anastasis said:

I am shocked. 

 

 

[Deej 76755]

Quote

The U.S. military launched a clandestine program amid the COVID crisis to discredit China’s Sinovac inoculation – payback for Beijing’s efforts to blame Washington for the pandemic. 

 

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

[Hook1997 5351]

I can’t believe the origins of a disease is political, what a time to be alive.  I also thought we all put two and two together a long time ago.  First outbreak was in Wuhan, Wuhan has a lab that was studying Covid, it’s China...  

[B00M 6414]

On 4/16/2024 at 11:19 PM, Anastasis said:

Crazy thought here, but maybe we stop using US taxpayer dollars to support off-shored risky virus research through funding cutouts without adequate audit procedures and  controls in place. This is like crazy world that these things are obvious.  

If 15 federal agencies were aware of the research, what were they supposed to do? Cry to the press and create a panic? How were any of them supposed to know the true risk? 

I thought the purpose of the US funding was to increase US access? It’s not like China can’t afford to do this research. 

[Bevo 13569]

We don't need access to Chinese research and they don't need access to ours. A third of the biology researchers here in the US are Chinese. Some Chinese will move back to China as they get older for lower cost of living. Some will move back to China because fuck the US. Some will get recruited to go back to China. Some Chinese will stay in the US because China sucks. Some Chinese will stay in the US because 'Merica. So it goes without saying that biological research is a worldwide endeavor.

The point is that we have a pretty open border for biology scientists and since we have the strongest biological research programs, we have an influx of smart young people from around the world. And generally we don't have a problem with these researchers. The issue that we have is with certain governments.

Science is being conducted in China that we would not allow in the US. Collaborations are ongoing because that is what scientists do. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Chinese in China are collaborating with US researchers and some of this is leading to research being conducted in China that we as a government would be opposed to.

As for GOF research, it has a bad name, but some of it is essential. To treat Alzheimer's, cerebral palsy, and a host of other diseases, it might be beneficial to learn to grow brain cells. Well, we aren't going to conduct that research on humans, we would rather develop super monkeys. And they might have benefits themselves, perhaps as Amazon delivery drivers, or High School football coaches or even sex slaves. And is that such a big price to pay for progress?

[BrickHorn 18216]

1 hour ago, Hook1997 said:

I can’t believe the origins of a disease is political, what a time to be alive.  I also thought we all put two and two together a long time ago.  First outbreak was in Wuhan, Wuhan has a lab that was studying Covid, it’s China...  

That’s not so much a political issue as it is a case of conspiracy-minded dumdums jumping to conclusions because they don’t understand how probabilities work and thus easily fall for a version of the sharpshooter fallacy (with a little push from opportunistic propagandists).

[Hate 20106]

1 hour ago, Hook1997 said:

I can’t believe the origins of a disease is political, what a time to be alive.  I also thought we all put two and two together a long time ago.  First outbreak was in Wuhan, Wuhan has a lab that was studying Covid, it’s China...  

Shirley you can’t be serious. Covid was politicized from the moment it was first reported. 

[Incredulity 11655]

2 hours ago, Hook1997 said:

I also thought we all put two and two together a long time ago.

 

L O fucking L

 

[YGIFS 19449]

We kinda have a tendency to blame pandemics on "others."  Shit, the "Spanish Flu" of 1918 started in Kansas.  We just didn't want to admit it so we denied cases until Spain started reporting them and everybody pointed their fingers at Iberia.  Bubonic, Black, Third Plague, et. al.  Some dirty group, immigrants, people of a different religion, gypsies, et. al.  If something sweeps through killing 7 or 8 digits of people, you'd be insane not to blame it on somebody else.  It's kind of our jam as a species.  Rats, dirty water, coughing on other people in tight spaces?  Nah.  It's an Oriental Sorcerer at work, obviously.  

[Anastasis 23463]

8 hours ago, BrickHorn said:

because they don’t understand how probabilities work

[Keef 764]

On 6/21/2024 at 11:15 AM, YGIFS said:

We kinda have a tendency to blame pandemics on "others."  Shit, the "Spanish Flu" of 1918 started in Kansas.  We just didn't want to admit it so we denied cases until Spain started reporting them and everybody pointed their fingers at Iberia.  Bubonic, Black, Third Plague, et. al.  Some dirty group, immigrants, people of a different religion, gypsies, et. al.  If something sweeps through killing 7 or 8 digits of people, you'd be insane not to blame it on somebody else.  It's kind of our jam as a species.  Rats, dirty water, coughing on other people in tight spaces?  Nah.  It's an Oriental Sorcerer at work, obviously.  

I mean, I won't argue with you that we (along with most humans) are racist, awful shitbags, but no one reported deaths from the Spanish Flu because WWI was going on.  Spain didn't participate and thus had no reason to hide deaths - hence they got blamed.

[Poester 109]

Is blaming China for this particular pandemic racist? It’s clear it originated there, whether naturally or from a lab. Seems reasonable imo. 

[YGIFS 19449]

Yeah, good point.  I see no reason not to call it what it is...a pandemic virus that originated in China.  Whether it was an accident or a lab leak, remains to be seen.  But all indications suggest that's where it came from  

But almost 5 years later, to be still selling schwag to combat the "Hong Kong Flu" that itself is made in China to the tune of tens of millions of dollars just seems like a curious move.  40 years ago, I don't really remember buying a lot of stuff that was 'Made in the USSR', but maybe I didn't have access to the traitorous outlet malls some of you guys did.  

[Blotto 23491]

2 hours ago, Poester said:

Is blaming China for this particular pandemic racist? It’s clear it originated there, whether naturally or from a lab. Seems reasonable imo. 

Too many stupid, easily manipulated people in this  country to use the word “blame“ until you know for certain if it's the former or the latter. 

[Mikey4 2476]

4 hours ago, Poester said:

Is blaming China for this particular pandemic racist? It’s clear it originated there, whether naturally or from a lab. Seems reasonable imo. 

I don't "blame" China. Every indication is that Covid-19 originated there, and that is what it is. But "blame" is not the word I'd use.

[BrickHorn 18216]

3 hours ago, Blotto said:

Too many stupid, easily manipulated people in this country thread to use the word “blame“ until you know for certain if it's the former or the latter. 

Fify

[Pam Cummings 9639]

Everything has to be a conspiracy. Simple human error just isn't an option anymore. Some dude in some lab fucked up. But that's not good enough for you dipshits is it. Everything has to be a conspiracy.

[YGIFS 19449]

 

[Murfdogg21 4412]

11 hours ago, Mikey4 said:

I don't "blame" China. Every indication is that Covid-19 originated there, and that is what it is. But "blame" is not the word I'd use.

If the most likely origin was the research lab or associated with animals in their wet markets, blame is probably justified. If another pandemic originates that is associated with brisket and beef fajita, other nations are free to blame Texas. Don’t care, smoked beef. 

[Poester 109]

14 hours ago, Mikey4 said:

I don't "blame" China. Every indication is that Covid-19 originated there, and that is what it is. But "blame" is not the word I'd use.

I blame them for the secrecy on the matter. We’d know a lot more if they’d own it instead of being pussies about it. 

[Bevo 13569]

1 minute ago, Poester said:

I blame them for the secrecy on the matter. We’d know a lot more if they’d own it instead of being pussies about it. 

Didn't some lead researchers disappear?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-wuhan-virus-lab-scientist-thought-to-be-patient-zero-still-missing/VA4TIO726U7P36ZQG2WLHDDTNA/

 

Covid 19 coronavirus: Wuhan virus lab scientist thought to be 'patient zero' still missing
news.com.au
18 Jan, 2021 10:46 AM

The fate of a Chinese researcher believed to be the world's first Covid-19 patient remains a mystery despite a year-long search by Western intelligence officials investigating the origins of the pandemic.

Huang Yanling, who worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, was one of scores of doctors, scientists, activists and journalists who disappeared during the Chinese Communist Party's suspected cover-up.
 

During the early weeks of the outbreak last February, rumours swirled on Chinese social media that the graduate student was "patient zero", creating a direct link between the controversial lab and the virus outbreak.

Chinese officials quickly stepped in to censor the reports from the internet.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology denied she was patient zero and insisted, without evidence, that she was alive and well elsewhere in the country – while scrubbing her biography and image from its website.

A post purporting to be from Huang later appeared on social media platform WeChat.

"To my teachers and fellow students, how long no speak," the message said. "I am Huang Yanling, still alive. If you receive any email (regarding the Covid-19 rumour), please say it's not true."

Her former boss made a separate post on social media claiming that she had left the institute in 2015, while a Chinese news agency claimed that it had spoken with her new employer but provided no other details.

Missing Chinese researcher Huang Yanling. Photo / news.com.au

A grainy photo of the young woman in her 20s with long hair seen peering out from behind a colleague – salvaged from the website and circulated online – is the only known photo of Huang.

According to the UK's Mail on Sunday, which has also attempted unsuccessfully to track her down, little else is known about her other than that her name is included among the authors of three scientific papers issued by the institute between 2013 and 2015.

The Mail on Sunday says Western governments and intelligence agencies have tried and failed to track down Huang, sparking fears she is either dead or being detained by Chinese authorities.

Huang's disappearance had earlier been cited in a 15-page dossier prepared by Western governments – published by The Sunday Telegraph in May last year – laying out evidence the virus had escaped from the lab.

The Mail on Sunday says its own extensive inquiries within China, including messages to her former colleagues, have also turned up empty.

Despite China's internet censors stamping out discussion of Huang, many social media users continue to speculate about her fate, with some claiming she may have been hastily cremated.

"Everyone on the Chinese internet is searching for Huang," one blogger wrote, according to the Mail on Sunday. "Most believe she is dead."
Wuhan Institute of Virology senior researcher Shi Zhengli. Photo / news.co.au
Wuhan Institute of Virology senior researcher Shi Zhengli. Photo / news.co.au

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Mail on Sunday in a statement that the Chinese Communist Party had prevented investigators from interviewing researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology "including those who were ill in the fall (autumn) of 2019".

"Beijing continues today to withhold vital information that scientists need to protect the world from this deadly virus and the next one," Pompeo said.

It comes as US officials step up their attacks on China over the pandemic, claiming they have explosive new evidence that proves Covid-19 leaked from the lab.

Pompeo earlier demanded the World Health Organisation launch an investigation into the possibility the virus was result of an "accidental" lab leak.

He said US intelligence agencies had found scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill in the autumn of 2019 with symptoms consistent with Covid-19, earlier than previously believed.

"This raises questions about the credibility of WIV senior researcher Shi Zhengli's public claim that there was 'zero infection' among WIV's staff and students of SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-related viruses," Pompeo said.

The first cluster of cases was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, with early reports linking the outbreak to a controversial "wet market" that sold and butchered exotic animals in disgusting conditions.

The "patient zero" of the Huanan market had previously been named as a 57-year-old seafood merchant, a woman named Wei Guixian, who first started to feel sick on December 10.

On Thursday, the WHO's team of experts arrived in Wuhan to begin their investigation into the origins of the virus, which has now killed more than two million people globally.

"We need to be very careful about the use of the phrase 'patient zero' which many people indicate as the first initial case," Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid-19 technical lead, told a press conference.

"We may never find who the patient zero was."

Western governments believe that the body has largely ceded control of the investigation to China, leading to fears of a whitewash.

"Unfortunately, this has become a political investigation," Singapore-based Australian virologist Wang Linfa told The New York Times in November. "Whatever they do is symbolic."