DISINFO: Coronavirus was developed by biologists to create a vaccine against AIDS
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: sputnik.az (archived)*
  • Date of publication: April 18, 2020
  • Outlet language(s): Azerbaijani
  • Reported in: Issue 194
  • Countries / regions discussed: China, France
Tags:
coronavirus Conspiracy theory

DISINFO: Coronavirus was developed by biologists to create a vaccine against AIDS

SUMMARY

French Nobel prize laureate Dr. Luc Montaigner is affirming that the coronavirus was created in laboratories. Dr. Montaigner believes that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was developed by biologists, and that HIV particles were added to the virus. Speaking about the purpose of creating the virus, the scientist said that it was probably done with the desire to create a vaccine against AIDS. According to Montaigner, the new coronavirus came from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.

RESPONSE

Sputnik amplifying conspiracy theory about the 2019-nCoV coronavirus, there is no evidence to suggest that the virus was fabricated inside laboratories. According to scientific community, commonalities between the SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19, and HIV are tiny, and can be found in many other viruses. Thus, there is no evidence to claim that the virus is man-made or that HIV particles have been added to it. See further debunk by Radio - Canada (in French). This Coronavirus comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold and viruses such as SARS and MERS. The medical Journal “Emerging Microbes & Infections” specifically said there is “No credible evidence supporting claims of the laboratory engineering”.

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