DISINFO: Pentagon-funded biological laboratories involved in creation of Coronavirus
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: iravunk.com (archived)*
  • Date of publication: March 19, 2020
  • Outlet language(s): Armenian
  • Reported in: Issue 189
  • Countries / regions discussed: Armenia
Tags:
coronavirus Lugar Laboratory laboratory Biological weapons

DISINFO: Pentagon-funded biological laboratories involved in creation of Coronavirus

SUMMARY

Officials and media outlets have doubts about Pentagon-funded biological laboratories. American laboratories can be involved in creation of Coronavirus.

RESPONSE

Conspiracy theory about the 2019-nCoV coronavirus, based on recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about biological weapons. The narratives also resemble a recurring conspiracy theory about the Lugar Lab in Georgia. 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 in a laboratory as a weapon of mass destruction. A group of public health scientists have condemned rumours and conspiracy theories about the origin of coronavirus outbreak. "We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin.The authors of The Lancet statement note that scientists from several countries who have studied SARS-CoV-2 “overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, just like many other viruses that have recently emerged in humans. There are numerous similar disinformation cases about coronavirus claiming that Coronavirus was created in a laboratory, or that Coronavirus an Anglo-Saxon biological warning: originates in US labs, is a US provocation against China, Coronavirus is a tool to weaken the Chinese economy, Coronavirus is an attempt by the Anglo-Saxons to control China.

Embed

Related disinfo cases

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.

    Your opinion matters!

    Data Protection Information *

      Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

      Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

      Data Protection Information *

      The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.