New York [US], April 19: A US federal website that once provided information about Covid-19 vaccines, tests and treatments has been turned into a page supporting the theory that the Covid-19 pandemic originated from a leak in a laboratory.
Covid.gov website now shows a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump walking between the words "lab" and "leak," according to the Associated Press on April 18.
The article on this page mentions that Wuhan (China ) is the place where the coronavirus first began to spread and is also home to a laboratory that once conducted research on the virus under conditions that "do not ensure the level of biosecurity".
"According to most scientific measures, if there is evidence of natural origin, it has already appeared. But in reality, this is not the case," AFP quoted an article on the website.
The Chinese side has not commented on the new information . The lab leak theory, once considered a conspiracy theory, has recently attracted attention in the United States.
So far, the true origin of Covid-19 has not been proven. Scientists are still debating whether the virus originated from animals or came from an accident in a laboratory. A U.S. intelligence report released in 2023 said there was not enough evidence to support both theories.
The website also criticized Anthony Fauci, former director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for supporting the theory that Covid-19 is of natural origin.
Changing the look and feel of government websites is common when switching from one administration to another, according to the AP.
On the site, public health data has been deleted, especially any information related to transgender people. The Pentagon also removed photos that were supposed to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ) changed its official stance on the origin of the virus, saying it was "more likely" that it leaked from a lab in China than was transmitted from animals.
This assessment has been criticized by China, saying that it is "very unlikely" that Covid-19 originated in a laboratory. China also called on the US to "stop politicizing and taking advantage of the traceability issue".
In the past, the Covid.gov website had information on how to order a free Covid-19 test kit and described how to update the vaccine - described as "the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones". The articles also guide how to treat the disease early if you have it, along with links to learn more about long Covid-19 syndrome.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of about 325 Americans have died from Covid-19 each week in the past 4 weeks. As of April 5, less than a quarter of adults in the US have received the new Covid-19 vaccine. Millions of people worldwide have long Covid-19 with dozens of different symptoms, including fatigue and brain fog.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper