Republicans and Democrats have launched a “groundbreaking” investigation into the origins of Covid – amid growing evidence the virus escaped from a Wuhan lab.
The 15-member Senate committee will examine the threat posed by deadly viruses escaping from high-security research laboratories in the United States and abroad.
It will also examine how taxpayer money was spent to fund research, including risky gain-of-function experiments, in which animal viruses are gently modified to make them more infectious in humans.
Rand Paul, senator from Kentucky and chairman of the committee behind the new investigation, said: “It is long past time for the Senate to conduct a bipartisan investigation into the origins of Covid.
“I’ve been knocking on doors of federal agencies for three years, relentlessly seeking information on COVID, but this is nothing short of a wild goose chase.
The 15-member Senate committee will examine the threat posed by deadly viruses escaping from high-security laboratories where research is carried out. Some claim Covid escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured above)
Democrat Gary Peters (left) and Republican Rand Paul are leading the investigation
He added: “To avoid repeating past mistakes, it is crucial that we fully understand the dangers of engaging in potentially dangerous bioresearch.”
The investigation comes after several US agencies – including the Department of Energy and State Department officials – suggested that Covid had leaked from a laboratory.
On Wednesday morning, a leading Australian scientist also added his voice to the theory, suggesting that laboratory leak theory was a “credible possibility”.
Scientists and experts, including government officials, have warned for years that risky research in high-profile labs could accidentally cause a deadly outbreak.
Federal data shows that approximately 70 to 100 release incidents are reported each year in which a virus or disease appears to have escaped outside of its “primary containment,” increasing the risk of a potential outbreak.
The graph above shows the number of laboratory leak incidents recorded each year in the United States, where a disease was released outside of its primary containment (or test tube).
Between 2015 and 2023, at least seven U.S. entities provided NIH grants to Chinese laboratories conducting animal experiments, totaling $3,306,061.
Senator Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan and chairman of the committee, said: “Biotechnology is advancing rapidly and our understanding of biological risks and threats is constantly evolving.
“While many of these advances are likely to greatly benefit Americans, we must also ensure that we address and minimize the serious risks they may also pose to our health and national security.”
“This bipartisan oversight effort will allow us to comprehensively examine whether the federal government is taking the necessary steps to protect Americans from current and future biological threats.”
For its investigation, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is expected to hold hearings involving a number of officials and experts on regulatory oversight of laboratories.
He is also likely to call a number of senior officials to explain how labs are regulated and whether increased oversight is needed.
The committee will conclude by publishing a report detailing its findings.
The start date for the investigation has not yet been set.
A hearing on laboratory regulation in October 2023 by the Special Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic revealed gaps in high-level laboratory oversight.
Officials concluded: “Members and witnesses noted the lack of clear standards for the design, construction and operation of high containment laboratories.
“(This) increases the risk of research-related accidents.”
They called on the United States to standardize its laboratory regulations to prevent further accidents, which could potentially spark another pandemic.
The new investigation will cross the political aisle, with eight Democratic committee members and seven Republicans.
This comes after DailyMail.com reported that America experiences a “surprisingly high” number of leak incidents at its major virus testing labs each year.
Official data reveals that more than 600 releases of “controlled” pathogens – which can include anthrax, tuberculosis and Ebola – were recorded in the United States in the eight years to 2022, equivalent to 70 to 100 releases each year.
At least two U.S. workers have been infected after “liberation events” over the past eight years – including the crippling mosquito-borne virus Chikungunya and the bacterial infection Q fever – although none no deaths have been reported.
Many incidents have been caused by scientists spilling the contents of test tubes, not wearing safety equipment properly, and being bitten and scratched by infected animals.
All were at risk of diseases being accidentally spread into the community, where pathogens could trigger the next pandemic.