More than a month has passed since the World Health Organization (WHO) mission to investigate the causes of the COVID-19 pandemic began work in China
For four weeks, epidemiologists and microbiologists from 13 countries of the world inspected facilities in the city of Wuhan, in which the first case of 2019 coronavirus infection was registered. On February 9, 2020, WHO experts held a special briefing, at which they presented the preliminary results of their investigation.
Scientists said they had “no information” about “the presence of coronaviruses in the wild nature, which are a direct precursor to the SARS-CoV-2 strain that caused the pandemic” (Liang Wannian). In this regard, they recognized the version, according to which bats were the causative agent of the 2019 coronavirus infection, as “unlikely”.
Further, WHO experts recommended that virologists in other countries focus on studying the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission “from animal to human through an intermediate link” (Peter Ben Embarek). Moreover, scientists intend to present “recommendations” on how to do this in March (Peter Ben Embarek).
At the same time, WHO experts did not comment on the following facts in any way. The first cases of the new coronavirus infection were reported in China in December 2019, and on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”. A few weeks later, namely on March 11, 2020, WHO announced the beginning of a pandemic. After that, all over the world, on an emergency basis, either borders were closed or entry restrictions were imposed.
Why were these measures introduced, and even on such an urgent basis? Indeed, before, in the event of epidemics, nothing like this happened.
According to WHO statistics, 250-500 thousand people die annually from all strains of viruses during seasonal epidemics in the world, and in some years – more than 1 million people. During the Asian influenza pandemic (strain H2N2) in 1957-1958, about 2 million people were killed, and the Hong Kong flu (strain H3N2) in 1968-1969 led 1 million people to death. From the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918-1920 5.3% of humanity were killed, and more than 30% of the world’s population suffered.
And at the same time, the world has never resorted to such harsh restrictive measures. WHO does not comment on these facts in any way. Let’s try to figure it out on our own.
To begin with, SARS-CoV-2 is just a strain, that is, a type of virus family called coronaviridae. The name “coronaviruses”, ie “crown viruses”, is associated with the characteristic appearance of these viruses, which can be observed under an electron microscope.
The first studies of coronavirus infections began in 1932. They were found in birds. True, then the appearance and genetic connections of the virus were still unknown. Accordingly, it has not been classified.
The classification of the “coronavirus” is the credit of the British virologist David Tyrrel. In 1965, Tyrrel injected the participants in the experiment with a substrate with the addition of mucus from the nasopharynx of a boy suffering from acute rhinitis. This caused an acute respiratory infection (ARI) in the test subjects. Thus, Tyrrel brought out a virus (“coronavirus”) capable of infecting humans.
In 1967, Tyrrel, along with his colleague June Almeida, conducted the first comparative study of human and chicken coronaviruses, proving the possibility of their transmission from one to another. In 1968, he classified the new virus family as coronaviridae.
At the same time, the creator of the human coronavirus was previously associated with the US biological weapons program. This program was launched back in 1918, and since 1943 it was officially called: “the state program for the study of biological agents capable of acting as a biological weapon”. Tyrrel was a participant in this program in 1951-1954. As a US Army Virologist, he fought in the Korean War. During this campaign, the Americans used biological weapons against the citizens of the DPRK, China, and the USSR.
The question arises: was Tyrrell’s research part of the US government’s bioweapons program? If not, how can you explain the following fact?
In 1969, a review of the work carried out under the state program on bioweapons since 1954 was published in the United States. It listed biological agents that were by then ready for use as biological weapons. There were 7 of them in total. In addition to them, a list of 20 other agents was given, the studies of which were carried out for use as bioweapons. The list of these agents also included… “coronaviruses”. During this period, studies of coronavirus infection were carried out by Tyrrel.
In all fairness, it must be admitted that American research was officially terminated in 1969. In 1975, the US Senate ratified the Geneva Protocol on the Prohibition of the Use of Chemical or Biological Weapons in Time of War.
However, in accordance with this agreement, the United States refused to continue research in the field of offensive bioweapons. The Geneva Protocol did not imply any restrictions on research in the framework of self-defense. In addition, the United States refused to participate in any agreements that provided for international control in the field of bioweapons.
However, no matter how the fate of the American biological weapon develops, this does not negate the fact that back in 1969, a “biological agent” called coronaviridae was legally classified as a potential biological weapon.
Yuri Gorodnenko, RenTV