he chance the Covid virus leaked from a laboratory shouldn't be dominated out, a former prime Chinese authorities scientist has stated.

The view of virologist and immunologist Professor George Gao is in stark distinction to that of the Chinese authorities which dismisses any suggestion the virus could have originated in a Wuhan laboratory.

Prof Gao, the previous head of China’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC), advised the BBC Radio 4 podcast Fever: The Hunt for Covid’s Origin: “You can always suspect anything. That’s science. Don’t rule out anything.”

Prof Gao is now vp of the National Natural Science Foundation of China after retiring final yr from the CDC, the place he performed a key position within the pandemic response and efforts to hint the way it began.

The Chinese Embassy within the UK advised the BBC: “The so-called ‘lab leak’ is a lie created by anti-China forces. It is politically motivated and has no scientific basis.”

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The principle that the virus by chance leaked from a laboratory resurfaced in February when the FBI’s director stated that is the place it “most likely” originated – though there isn't a consensus amongst US intelligence businesses on the query.

The BBC experiences that many scientists say the burden of proof suggests {that a} pure origin – the virus spreading from animals to people – is the probably state of affairs.

The thought the virus contaminated somebody concerned in analysis which was designed to raised perceive the specter of viruses rising from nature is one other suggestion.

Wuhan is dwelling to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), one in all China’s prime nationwide laboratories identified to have spent years learning coronaviruses.

Professor Gao advised the BBC some sort of formal investigation into the WIV was carried out and “that lab was double-checked by the experts in the field”.

Stating he has not seen the consequence, however has “heard” that the lab was given a clear invoice of well being, Prof Gao added: “I think their conclusion is that they are following all the protocols. They haven’t found (any) wrongdoing.”

Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Market and hospitals close to it had been the main target of searches for potential clarification for the virus early within the pandemic.

An investigation into Covid’s origin by the World Health Organisation stated it was “extremely unlikely” the virus leaked from a lab.

Plans for a second section of the investigation, involving audits of laboratories within the Wuhan space, had been rejected by the Chinese authorities, the podcast provides.