Elon Musk Accuses USAID of Funding Risky Research Linked to Wuhan Lab

Musk's claims reignite debate over U.S.-funded virology projects as experts highlight lack of definitive evidence connecting them to COVID-19 origins.

• Elon Musk alleged that USAID funded bioweapon research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a claim lacking definitive evidence but sparking significant discussion.
• USAID's PREDICT program, active between 2009 and 2019, funded virus collection and research, including partnerships with organizations like EcoHealth Alliance and WIV.
• Critics of the PREDICT program argue it failed to predict or prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, despite its stated goals of identifying pandemic-causing viruses.
• The U.S. government has debarred EcoHealth Alliance and WIV from receiving federal funding due to transparency and biosafety concerns in their research practices.
• While U.S. intelligence agencies consider a lab accident a possible cause of the pandemic, they emphasize that confidence in this theory remains low and inconclusive.

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