CIA Finds Lab Origin of COVID-19 More Likely Than Natural Source

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded that it is more likely that the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a laboratory rather than occurring naturally. This assessment was made public by an agency spokesperson over the weekend. Historically, the CIA maintained that it could not definitively determine the virus's origins, but a recent push from former CIA Director William Burns prompted analysts to reconsider their position.

While the CIA states it has "low confidence" in this new assessment, both a research-related and a natural origin of the virus are still considered plausible. There is uncertainty regarding the intelligence that led to this conclusion and whether new evidence was utilized in making the assessment.

In response, China's government rejected the CIA's findings, labeling them as misleading and asserting that the origins of the virus should be established through scientific inquiry rather than political discourse. The country has consistently supported investigations into COVID-19's source while criticizing U.S. intelligence efforts as political maneuvers.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe emphasized that understanding the origins of COVID-19 would be a priority for him following his confirmation as the agency's head.