George Fu Gao, a prominent Chinese scientist and former director of China’s Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), has stated that the theory suggesting the Covid-19 virus originated from a laboratory leak should not be dismissed.
Gao’s comments came during an interview for the BBC Radio 4 podcast titled ‘Fever: The Hunt for Covid’s Origin’.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, China has consistently denied any claims that the virus could have originated from a lab in Wuhan.
However, Gao revealed that an investigation into the lab leak theory was conducted by a branch of the Chinese government at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
According to Gao, experts in the field thoroughly examined the laboratory and concluded that all protocols had been followed, with no evidence of wrongdoing found.
The question of where the virus truly originated from remains open, Gao emphasized. Even after more than two years since the start of the pandemic, the origins of Covid-19 continue to be a subject of debate among scientists and politicians worldwide.
Some propose that the virus crossed over to humans from bats, while others suggest it may have accidentally leaked from a laboratory.
In April, Gao expressed his concern about the sensitivity and politicization surrounding the discussion on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He believed that the true origins might never be fully revealed. Gao also pointed out that there is currently no evidence to support the notion that the virus emerged directly from animals.
Gao, who stepped down from his position in July 2022, stated that he did not observe anything unusual until December 2019, just a month before the coronavirus was officially confirmed.
He mentioned that many people still believe that certain animals served as hosts or reservoirs for the virus but stressed that there is no concrete evidence to support these claims.
As the investigation into the origins of Covid-19 continues, the lab leak theory remains a possibility, as acknowledged by a respected Chinese scientist.
The world eagerly awaits further scientific research and analysis to gain a better understanding of how this devastating pandemic began. (Edited)
