DISINFO: Coronavirus is a biological weapon, according to scientists
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: mundo.sputniknews.com (archived)*
  • Date of publication: February 13, 2020
  • Outlet language(s): Spanish
  • Reported in: Issue 186
  • Countries / regions discussed: China, US
Tags:
coronavirus Virus / bacteria threat USAID

DISINFO: Coronavirus is a biological weapon, according to scientists

SUMMARY

The belief that the Wuhan coronavirus spread from an animal market was rejected by the World Health Organisation and now many prestigious international scientists launched the idea that virus is a result of bioengineering. Francis Boyle, creator of the 1989 ‘Law against terrorism and biological weapons’ and specialist at the University of Illinois, claimed that it is a weapon for biological war.

His claims were ignored by globalised media involved in an anti-China campaign following the guidelines of the US Department of State. Chinese pathogen QX was taken as base for the coronavirus 2019-nCoV and researched in the Wuhan BSL-4 high security lab, where not only Chinese but also US, British and Canadian biologists had access to it. Interestingly, one of the sponsors of the research was the USAID, an open collaborator of the CIA.

RESPONSE

Conspiracy theory. No evidence is provided to support any of the claims.

See related examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about coronavirus, alleging that Bill Gates and George Soros are sponsoring it, that it is a UK, US or NATO creation and that the Americans have its cure, that it is an artificial disease which specifically targets Chinese DNA, that it was created with economic goals while big pharma companies are spreading panic for their own profit, that it is a biological weapon against Russia and China, that it will wipe out Ukraine’s population in a few days or that it was predicted by Nostradamus and others.

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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