Anthony Fauci is facing scrutiny following a report from US Government sources suggesting that the initial cases of COVID-19 were among scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology engaged in gain-of-function research.
Michael Shellenberger and Matt Taibbi reported on the emerging evidence pointing towards the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 originating from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). They mentioned that several US government officials interviewed as part of a comprehensive investigation by Public and Racket claimed that the first individuals infected, known as “patient zero,” included Ben Hu, a researcher leading gain-of-function research on SARS-like coronaviruses at the WIV.
Despite the challenges of uncovering the origin of the pandemic, recent information has brought answers closer. The sources within the US government state that Ben Hu, Yu Ping, and Yan Zhu, all members of the Wuhan lab suspected of the virus leak, were among the earliest individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. Notably, they were working with viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 and implementing unique gain-of-function features.
The certainty of these identities was asserted by a source, who replied with “100%” when asked about the identities of the three WIV scientists who exhibited COVID-19 symptoms in late 2019. Ben Hu, described as the next Shi Zhengli (known as “the bat woman of China” and leader of gain-of-function research at the WIV), was said to be at the forefront of risky virus research.
Hu and Yu conducted research on the novel lineage of SARS-like viruses, including the lineage from which SARS-CoV-2 originates. They co-authored a paper with Shi Zhengli in 2019, describing their studies on SARS-like lineages throughout the years.
Other news organizations are reportedly investigating various aspects of this story, and the release of previously classified material by the Directorate of National Intelligence is anticipated next week. The bill signed by President Biden earlier this year calls for the disclosure of the names, roles, symptoms, and onset dates of the sick researchers at the WIV, along with information about their involvement in or exposure to coronavirus research.
The report highlights a 2017 Chinese state-run television video showing Ben Hu observing a lab worker handling specimens without protective gear. The video also features WIV scientists conducting bat virus research with insufficient protective measures. Alina Chan, a molecular biologist, emphasized the need for stringent protective measures, especially considering that the pandemic virus can escape from a BSL-3 lab and infect fully vaccinated lab workers.
The report notes that although gain-of-function research was banned by President Barack Obama in 2014 due to safety concerns, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), led by Francis Collins and Fauci, and the EcoHealth Alliance, a major recipient of US government funding, supported research on SARS-like viruses in China and Southeast Asia, arguing that it did not fall under the definition of gain-of-function research of concern.
As investigations continue and more information becomes available, the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the involvement of the Wuhan Institute of Virology will likely be subject to ongoing scrutiny and discussion.