Evidence Increases That COVID-19 Might Have Emerged in the U.S.

Emerging evidence indicates that COVID-19 may have originated in the United States.

Evidence Increases That COVID-19 Might Have Emerged in the U.S.
A review of various research initiatives, including findings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, indicates that SARS-CoV-2 was likely present in the U.S. prior to the initial outbreak reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in central China.

A serological survey conducted by the CDC identified over 100 samples with positive antibodies collected in nine states between December 2019 and January 2020, most of which were collected before any officially reported cases in China. Similarly, the NIH's "All of Us" study found SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in samples taken from early January in places like Illinois and Massachusetts.

In 2019, there was a series of unexplained respiratory illness outbreaks in the U.S. Virginia reported 19 of these incidents from May to October. Notably, in July, two communities experienced pneumonia clusters of unknown origin, which local news referred to as a "mystery virus." This occurred around the same time the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory, located just an hour's drive from the affected communities, was unexpectedly closed, raising suspicions regarding a possible connection.

Moreover, 2019 saw an increase in severe lung illnesses that were initially attributed to vaping. These cases peaked in August and September and showcased symptoms akin to COVID-19, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. This outbreak resulted in over 2,800 hospitalizations and 68 fatalities across the country.

Additional evidence includes early flu-like outbreaks noted in South Carolina in September 2019, instances of potentially misclassified COVID-19 deaths, and the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients from Florida as early as January 2020, even though the state recorded its first official case in March. This specific data was later removed from public records, and the state's data chief was dismissed.

Furthermore, there were 28 incidents at the University of North Carolina that involved genetically modified microorganisms, including altered coronaviruses. Some experts have posited that the virus may have not originated naturally, but rather resulted from a laboratory incident.

Thomas Evans for TROIB News

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