French Nobel prize winning scientist Luc Montagnier has sparked a fresh controversy by claiming that the SARS-CoV-2 virus came from a lab, and is the result of an attempt to manufacture a vaccine against the AIDS virus.
In an interview given to French CNews channel and during a podcast by Pourquoi Docteur, professor Montagnier who co-discovered HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) claimed the presence of elements of HIV in the genome of the coronavirus and even elements of the "germ of malaria" are highly suspect, according to a report in Asia Times.
"The Wuhan city laboratory has specialized in these coronaviruses since the early 2000s. They have expertise in this area," he was quoted as saying.
The theory that Covid-19 virus originated in the lab is making rounds for quite some time.
US President Donald Trump last week acknowledged Fox News report that the novel coronavirus may have been accidentally leaked by an intern working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
The Fox News, in an exclusive report, based on unnamed sources has claimed that though the virus is a naturally occurring strain among bats and not a bioweapon, but it was being studied in Wuhan laboratory.
The initial transmission of the virus was bat-to-human, the news channel said, adding that the "patient zero" worked at the laboratory. The lab employee was accidentally infected before spreading the disease among the common people outside the lab in Wuhan city.
Professor Montagnier was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the identification of AIDS virus, with his colleague professor Franeoise Barre-Sinoussi.
His fresh claim on coronavirus, however, received criticism from scientists, including his colleagues.
"Just in case you don't know. Dr Montagnier has been rolling downhill incredibly fast in the last few years. From baselessly defending homeopathy to becoming an antivaxxer. Whatever he says, just don't believe him," tweeted Juan Carlos Gabaldon.
As per a recent Washington Post, two years ago, the US embassy officials in China raised concerns about the insufficient biosafety at the Chinese government's Wuhan Institute of Virology where deadly viruses and infectious diseases are studied.
Though the institute, located quite close to the Wuhan wet market, is China's first biosafety level IV lab, the US state department had warned in 2018 about "serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory".
Comments
Rakesh... dont tell us that all those chant VM are Nationalists
And you cant force people to chant this....
Ibraheem Hussain, Udupi, any comments.
This is sad and not right at all , brothers fighting against each other. Those guys dont represent me .
I apology and prayer to the cop.
Walida-e-hind-ki Zindabad :)
Shave BABA RAMDEVS BEARD....very good to know he rejected say ---mantaram.
They never targetted him , this police man objected for vande mataram , so they thrashed him . so CD is misleading its readers .
I did not see any chaddi statement now. Is it tolerenance?
Shocking, the Great India is turning to intolerant India! credit goes to rulers of India and its state.
ONE WHO VOTED TO MODHIJII ACCHE DINNN LET THEM SEE THIS AND SELECT THIER FUTURE.
THIS PEOPLE FRIST SHAVE U R SWAMIJI BEARED THEN US....
MODHIJI IS FAKEJIIII
Acche din effect
Now Arnab will shout in Newshour that the Muslim policemen is an anti national.
Modi government has already gave all the RSS to take the law into their hand. May be one day will come that our nation will become like Pakistan and Afghanistan; if not controlled by these RSS mad dogs.
The Roots of EVIL : ARROGANCE; ENVY and GREED.
Knowledge makes people HUMBLE
Arrogance make people IGNORANT.
I think there are many Ignorants who say they are the superior . but they really are stupids and commit such acts which they themselves open the door of hell.
THIS IS ACHEE DEEN OF MODI
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