New Research suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic was the result of an accidental lab leak.
Photo Courtesy: Daniel Schludi (Unsplash.com)
On Feb. 24, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely started from an accidental lab leak in China, according to a classified intelligence document. Still, U.S. spy agencies are divided over the issue or origination.
According to sources, the DOE assessed in the classified document that it had "low confidence" that the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan. A low confidence result is usually a result of information that is not reliable enough or too sparse to make a definitive statement of fact.
This is a change from a 2021 declassified report that cited with moderate confidence that the pandemic was the result of a laboratory accident. The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the newest assessment. According to the article, a senior U.S. intelligence official told the Journal that the update came in light of new intelligence and consultations outside of the government.
Meanwhile, China dismissed the claim. Mao Ning, a Chinese ministry spokeswoman, condemned the report and repeatedly calling for the U.S. to "stop defaming China." "Covid tracing is a scientific issue that should not be politicized, Ning stated.
This ongoing debate increased tensions between the U.S. and China. Earlier in the month, China allowed a spy balloon to cross into the borders of the U.S. China has also stated that the nation was considering supplying Russia with weapons to use in the war against Ukraine.
U.S. spy agencies, including the CIA are still divided over the origins of the virus. However the F.B.I. has also concluded with moderate confidence that the virus traces back to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
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