DISINFO: Emergence of coronavirus is not accidental and has economic goals
SUMMARY
Due to the situation in the financial markets, the emergence of coronavirus in China is not accidental and has very specific economic goals.
RESPONSE
Fear over coronavirus has indeed affected China's stock markets, but assessing the virus as an artificial, man-made problem is a part of the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on secret labs and biological weapons. Also consistent with the narrative that the spread of coronavirus is in the interest of the US to weaken China economically.
In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction.