Kirby's remarks come after the Department of Energy reportedly concluded the virus most likely stemmed from a lab leak in Wuhan.
A key defense spokesman warned there is"not a consensus" on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic among the United States intelligence community following a report that the Department of Energy determined the virus stemmed from a lab leak in China., where the virus was first detected in 2019—making it the second federal agency to come to that conclusion.
The origin of the virus has become a hotly debated, and politicized, discussion. Initially, it was believed the virus was likely transmitted to"patient zero" via a bat in an open-air market in Wuhan. However, a second theory that the virus could have been man-made and accidentally leaked from a nearby lab has also gained traction.
John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, fielded questions from journalists about the report during a press conference on Monday. During that conference, he stressed that the intelligence community remains divided about the origins of the virus. Above, an image showing John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, during a press conference on February 27, 2023, alongside an inset showing a model of COVID-19. Kirby emphasized that there is no consensus among the intelligence community about the origins of the virus following reporting that the Department of Energy determined it likely stemmed from a lab leak in Wuhan."There is not a consensus right now in the U.S.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations concluded in 2021 that the pandemic resulted from a lab leak with"moderate confidence." Four other agencies, however, maintain the virus likely spread naturally. Two others remain undecided on its origins.and to the American people that we're confident in, we will absolutely do that," Kirby said, adding the Biden administration wants"to know what happened here" to better prepare for future pandemics.
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