DISINFO: Western media propaganda claims that the coronavirus is a project of the Kremlin

This is a conspiracy theory, presented without evidence. It represents recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about alleged Western "Russophobia" and the coronavirus being a man-made tool of warfare. While many baseless conspiracy theories have emerged amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, there is no evidence that Western media are deliberately promoting them with malign intent. There is no evidence of any reputable Western media outlet describing coronavirus as a 'Kremlin project'. On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that pro-Kremlin media are spreading disinformation on the disease for political purposes through a coordinated campaign. Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) comes from a family of viruses originating in animals that include other viruses such as SARS and MERS. It was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central China and has been rapidly spreading with new cases being reported in the Asia-Pacific region as well as Europe, North America and the Middle East, causing more than 3584 deaths by 8 March 2020. As of 8th March 2020, coronavirus was confirmed in over 100 countries on all continents (except Antarctica). Coronaviruses are known to circulate in mammals and birds, and scientists have already suggested that nCoV-2019 originally came from bats. The South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou says that two of its researchers have identified the pangolin as the potential source of nCoV-2019. This was announced to reporters at a press conference on 7 February 2020. Read previous disinformation narratives alleging that the emergence of the coronavirus is not accidental and has economic goals, that the coronavirus is a US provocation against China, that the coronavirus is a biological weapon created by the UK, and that a new Chinese coronavirus was likely elaborated in NATO biolabs.