The U.S. intelligence community has concluded a 90-day investigation into the origins of COVID-19 without reaching a definitive assessment. Ordered by President Joe Biden, the investigation explored various theories but ultimately found itself split on the virus’s genesis.
According to the unclassified summary released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, agencies are divided between the hypotheses of natural exposure to an infected animal and a possible laboratory incident. Some agencies lean towards the virus emerging naturally, citing low confidence, while at least one agency assesses with moderate confidence that the initial human infection could be attributed to a lab accident. Several agencies remain undecided, highlighting the need for more comprehensive data and access to clinical samples from the earliest cases.
Despite the uncertainties, the report asserts that COVID-19 was not developed as a biological weapon, nor was it genetically engineered. This contradicts earlier claims made during the previous U.S. administration, where some officials suggested the virus could have been a deliberate creation.
The report also acknowledges that Chinese officials were unaware of the virus before the initial outbreak. The Chinese mainland has consistently urged the United States to approach the origins tracing with scientific rigor and has invited experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) for investigations.
In March, the WHO released a report on the global tracing of COVID-19 origins. The study concluded that the virus’s introduction through an intermediate host is “likely to very likely,” while introduction through a laboratory incident is deemed “extremely unlikely.”
The lack of consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies underscores the complexities involved in pinpointing the origins of the pandemic. The call for more data reflects the broader international push for transparency and collaboration in understanding how COVID-19 began, aiming to prevent future global health crises.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
