Five years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus still remains unanswered. Has the virus been transmitted to humans naturally, or has there been a leak from the lab? In recent months, this theme has again gained importance, especially in the context of changes in US information policy. Let us look at the latest developments and controversy around the source of the pandemic.
Current U.S. intelligence positions
In January 2025, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) published an evaluation stating that it was more likely that COVID-19 came from a laboratory than from a natural reservoir such as the Wuhan Market. However, the agency pointed out that it had "low confidence" in this assessment, based on existing data rather than new evidence.
Other intelligence agencies, such as the FBI and the U.S. Department of Energy, also expressed support for the theory of leakage from the lab, though with varying degrees of certainty. Nevertheless, the lack of clear evidence makes this subject remain open and controversial.
Changes in US information policy
In April 2025, President Donald Trump's administration made a significant change in the presentation of COVID-19 information. Official government sites such as covid.gov and covidtests.gov have been redirected to a new page promoting the theory of leakage from the laboratory as the only real source of pandemics.
The new website includes accusations against former public health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, and international institutions, including the World Health Organisation (WHO). Critics say that such presentation of information is unilateral and can mislead the public.
The position of the scientific community
Many scientists still believe that the most likely source of SARS-CoV-2 is the natural transmission of the virus from wild animals to humans. Research suggests that the virus could have come from bats and moved to humans through an indirect host such as scallops or other animals sold at the Wuhan Fair.
However, the lack of full cooperation from China and limited access to early pandemic data make it difficult to clearly identify the source of the virus. Therefore, the scientific community calls for further independent research and greater transparency.
Policy impact on the debate on the origin of the virus
The debate on the origin of COVID-19 has become strongly politicized, especially in the United States. Changes in information policy and public accusations of specific individuals and institutions may affect public perception of facts.
Experts warn that politicising scientific issues can lead to misinformation and undermine confidence in public health institutions. They also stress the need to separate research from political influence in order to ensure the objectivity and reliability of the findings.
The origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains an outstanding issue. Although some intelligence agencies tend to the theory of leakage from the lab, the lack of clear evidence makes the theory of natural transfer still considered probable. However, politicising the debate may hinder objective research and understanding of the origin of the pandemic.
