House Committee Confirms Lab Leak Likely Caused COVID-19

A recent 520-page report by the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concludes that the COVID-19 virus likely originated from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), dispelling the notion that this theory is merely a conspiracy. The report cites evidence that the virus has unique features not found in nature and that researchers at WIV showed symptoms of a COVID-like illness prior to the outbreak. It also indicates that U.S. funding supported gain-of-function research at WIV, which involves modifying viruses to assess their infectivity in humans. While many scientists still believe the virus has a zoonotic origin, this report reflects a growing political push to investigate the lab leak theory. The subcommittee’s findings are part of ongoing debates and investigations into the pandemic's origins, as lawmakers seek to ensure better preparedness for future outbreaks.