US Aid Discreetly Dispatched 11,000 Virus Samples to Wuhan Lab, Lacking Formal Accord and Supervision
Recent reports have surfaced, based on documents obtained via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits, that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shipped approximately 11,000 viral samples to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) over a ten-year period. The samples, collected mainly from China’s Yunnan Province, are home to some of the closest known relatives to the COVID-19 virus.
The transfer of these samples was part of USAID’s PREDICT program, a global initiative aimed at collecting, storing, and analysing viral samples from wildlife and humans for public health surveillance. However, internal records and documentation suggest that there was no formal partnership agreement between USAID and the WIV, meaning that binding safeguards, oversight measures, and clear contingencies for U.S. access to the samples were not established.
The samples included a significant number of bat and rodent specimens, as well as human materials such as blood serum and viral transport medium. Yet, there were no robust provisions in place to ensure the samples would not be misused or diverted for purposes such as bioweapons research, nor was there a guarantee that the U.S. government would maintain access to the samples.
Further concerns were raised when it was reported that the State Department had previously inspected the WIV and found it did not meet minimum biosafety standards, yet the shipments continued. This lack of oversight and risk management has led to criticism regarding transparency, security, and the potential for misuse of sensitive biological materials.
Some of the shipped viral samples are among the closest known relatives of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, causing further concerns about the lab’s connection to the pandemic’s origin. The PREDICT program faced challenges in maintaining long-term storage of samples as funding fluctuated, reportedly leading to ad hoc arrangements for sample disposition.
In summary, USAID facilitated the transfer of thousands of viral samples to the WIV through an international public health initiative, but without the formal agreements or oversight required to ensure security, transparency, and continued U.S. access. The details about the sample transfer were found in documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request, and the information about the second transfer of samples was reported by The Daily Caller. The transfer of samples took place quietly, without any documentation, and with no contingency established for U.S. access to the samples.
- The lack of formal partnership agreements between USAID and the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) raises concerns about the absence of binding safeguards and oversight measures, particularly in relation to policy-and-legislation that govern health-and-wellness, medical-conditions, and general-news.
- The transfer of thousands of viral samples, including those among the closest known relatives of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to the WIV via the PREDICT program further highlights the need for transparency and secure handling of sensitive biological materials in science and technology, and the potential impact on public health.
- In light of reports indicating that the State Department found the WIV did not meet minimum biosafety standards and the subsequent concerns regarding misuse or diversion of samples for purposes such as bioweapons research, it is essential for policymakers to address these issues and establish comprehensive policy-and-legislation to ensure the safety and security of important research initiatives, particularly in health-and-wellness and science.
