The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has suspended funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) due to concerns about the lab's transparency and adherence to safety protocols. This decision follows a review indicating the WIV's failure to comply with federal regulations and provide sufficient documentation regarding its security measures. The suspension effectively blocks any further federal funds from reaching the institute.
The WIV received approximately $1.4 million in U.S. funding between 2014 and 2019 through USAID and NIH. This revelation comes amidst renewed scrutiny of the lab's potential role in the COVID-19 pandemic's origin. Reports suggest that three WIV researchers, including Ben Hu, fell ill with a mysterious illness in November 2019, predating the officially recognized first COVID-19 case in December. Notably, Hu's research, partially funded by U.S. grants, focused on the potential for animal viruses to infect humans and cause pandemics, including studies on bat coronaviruses. This timeline raises questions about the accuracy of the initial narrative surrounding the pandemic's emergence.
Security personnel outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images, File)
Aerial view of the P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images, File)
Security personnel near the Wuhan Institute of Virology. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
