Coronavirus: China furiously responds to claim outbreak originated in bio-weapon lab

The coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has now spread to more than 27 countries worldwide with more than 40,000 known cases. The death toll in China now stands at 908 with a further two casualties occurring outside the mainland in Hong Kong and the Philippines. The virus, provisionally named 2019-nCoV, is believed to have originated from a meat market in Wuhan – located in China’s central Hubei province.

Other medical professionals have speculated the virus may have even spread to humans from bats, snakes or even pangolins.

With no clear cause of the outbreak, it has fuelled further speculation the virus could have been made by humans.

US Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who sits on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committee, suggested the virus may have come from China’s biological warfare program.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai fired back at the claims and insisted it is “crazy” to believe China is behind the outbreak.

The Chinese diplomat stated it is “very dangerous to stir up suspicion” and warned it could lead to racial discrimination and xenophobia.

He told US network CBS: “I think it’s true that a lot is still unknown and our scientists, Chinese scientists, American scientists, scientists of other countries are doing their best to learn more about the virus, but it’s very harmful.

“It’s very dangerous to stir up suspicion, rumours and spread them among the people. For one thing, this will create panic.

“Another thing that it will fend up racial discrimination, xenophobia, all these things, that will really harm our joint efforts to combat the virus.

“Of course, there are all kinds of speculation and rumours. There are people who are saying that these viruses are coming from some- some military lab, not of China, maybe in the US. How, how can we believe all these crazy things?”

Mr Tiankai insisted research has indicated the coronavirus may have originated from animals.

He added: “We still don’t know yet. It’s probably according to some initial outcome of the research, probably coming from some animals. But we have to discover more about it.”

The number of people killed by the coronavirus has already surpassed the number of people who died from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002/2003.

READ MORE: Coronavirus outbreak UK: How to protect yourself as Britons infected

The department has also announced people with coronavirus can now be forcibly quarantined and will not be free to leave, and can be forcibly sent into isolation if they pose a threat.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the risk to be public remains “moderate” but insisted the Government is taking a “belt and braces approach” to the deadly virus.

Mr Hancock said: “Clinical advice has not changed about the risk to the public, which remains moderate.

“We are taking a belt and braces approach to all necessary precautions to ensure public safety.

“The transmission of coronavirus would constitute a serious threat – so I am taking action to protect the public and isolate those at risk of spreading the virus.”

source: express.co.uk