DISINFO: Coronavirus was created by Americans in a biolaboratory in Kazakhstan
SUMMARY
Several years ago, American laboratories in Kazakhstan carried out experiments on bats to create a new type of coronavirus that is dangerous to humans. On the territory of the Research Institute of Biological Safety in southern Kazakhstan, the KZ-33 project was implemented, funded by the US Department of Defence.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about secret labs and development of biological weapons by the United States. There is no evidence to claim that the US is developing biological weapons. There is also no evidence to support the claim that partnering biolabs under the agreement have become epicentres for the spread of infectious diseases or have been used to attack populations. Due to the increasing cases of dissemination of false information regarding the activities of biological laboratories in Kazakhstan, Kazakh Foreign Ministry stated: "We declare responsibly that no biological weapons development is underway in Kazakhstan, no research is conducted against any other states. The CRL [Central Reference Laboratory] significantly strengthened the scientific potential of Kazakhstan and increased the safety of research. The presence of such high-tech facilities reflects the level of development of the state and its ability to respond adequately to biological threats." In the period from 2016 to 2018, coronaviruses were really studied in Kazakhstan. The project monitored the spread of coronavirus among camels and bats in several regions of Kazakhstan. Coronaviruses are a family of highly contagious respiratory pathogens. The first strains of it, dangerous to humans, were recorded by experts back in the 1960s. At the moment, according to various sources, people have studied around several dozen types of coronaviruses, seven of which are dangerous to humans. The viruses studied in bats in Kazakhstan belong to a different family of coronaviruses. The strains of the coronavirus of "Kazakhstan" bats are designated KZ3 and KZ43. They are classified as alpha coronaviruses, while SARS-CoV, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (which causes COVID-19) belong to the beta coronavirus family.