The SARS conspiracy theory began to emerge during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in China in the spring of 2003, when Sergei Kolesnikov,[1] a Russian scientist and a member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, first publicized his claim that the SARS coronavirus is a synthesis of measles and mumps. According to Kolesnikov, this combination cannot be formed in the natural world and thus the SARS virus must have been produced under laboratory conditions. Another Russian scientist, Nikolai Filatov, head of Moscow's epidemiological services, had earlier commented that the SARS virus was probably man-made.[2][3]
However, independent labs concluded these claims to be premature since the SARS virus is a coronavirus,[4][5][6] whereas measles and mumps are paramyxoviruses.[7][8] The primary differences between a coronavirus and a paramyxovirus are in their structures and method of infection, thus making it implausible for a coronavirus to have been created from two paramyxoviruses.
The widespread reporting of claims by Kolesnokov and Filatov caused controversy in many Chinese internet discussion boards and chat rooms. Many Chinese believed that the SARS virus could be a biological weapon manufactured by the United States, which perceived China as a potential threat.[9] The failure to find the source of the SARS virus further convinced these people and many more that SARS was artificially synthesised and spread by some individuals and even governments. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the SARS virus crossed over to humans from Asian palm civets ("civet cats"), a type of animal that is often killed and eaten in Guangdong, where SARS was first discovered.[10][11]
Supporters of the conspiracy theory suggest that SARS caused the most serious harm in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, regions where most Chinese reside, while the United States, Europe and Japan were not affected as much. However, the highest mortality from SARS outside of China occurred in Canada where 43 died.[12][13] Conspiracists further take as evidence the idea that, although SARS has an average mortality rate of around 10% around the world, no one died in the United States from SARS. However, there were only 8 confirmed cases out of 27 probable cases in the US (10% of 8 people is less than 1 person).[14][15][16] Regarding reasons why SARS patients in the United States experienced a relatively mild illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has explained that anybody with fever and a respiratory symptom who had traveled to an affected area was included as a SARS patient in the U.S., even though many of these were found to have had other respiratory illnesses.[16][17]
Tong Zeng, an activist with no medical background, authored the book The Last Defense Line: Concerns About the Loss of Chinese Genes, published in 2003.[18] In the book, Zeng suggested researchers from the United States may have created SARS as an anti-Chinese bioweapon after taking blood samples in China for a longevity study in the 1990s.[18] The book's hypothesis was a front-page report in the Guangzhou newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily.[18]
Coronaviruses similar to SARS have been found in bats in China, suggesting they may be their natural reservoir.[19]
^"SARS virus was created in weapons lab: Russian scientist". Rediff. from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
^"SARS could be biological weapon: experts". ABC News. April 12, 2003. from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
^. www.news24.com. 11 April 2003. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
^Marco A Marra; Steven J M Jones; Caroline R Astell; et al. (1 May 2003). "The Genome sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus". Science. 300 (5624): 1399–1404. Bibcode:2003Sci...300.1399M. doi:10.1126/SCIENCE.1085953. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 12730501. Wikidata Q29619007.
^"Coronavirus belongs to same family as Sars". 18 February 2013. from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
^. pathmicro.med.sc.edu. Archived from the original on 24 May 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^"Paramyxovirus Information". www.stanford.edu. from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^"Measles". World Health Organization. from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^"Speculation SARS leaked from bio-weapon program". Melbourne: theage.com.au. May 1, 2003. from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
^. CNN. January 17, 2004. Archived from the original on December 1, 2004. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
^"China scientists say SARS-civet cat link proved". Reuters. 23 November 2006. from the original on 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
^"WHO - Summary of probable SARS cases with onset of illness from 1 November 2002 to 31 July 2003". www.who.int. from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
^Al-Juhaishi, Atheer Majid Rashid; Aziz, Noor D. (2022-09-12). "Safety and Efficacy of antiviral drugs against covid-19 infection: an updated systemic review". Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal. 1 (2): 45–55. doi:10.55940/medphar20226. ISSN 2957-6067. S2CID 252960321. from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
^. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
^ ab"Update: Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome --- Worldwide, 2003". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, U.S. Centers for Disease Control. April 4, 2003. from the original on 2017-06-17. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
^. futurepundit.com. April 3, 2003. Archived from the original on 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
^ abcSheridan Prasso (16 February 2004). . The New Republic. Archived from the original on 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2007-08-16. (also see . Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-12.)
^"SARS-like coronavirus found in wild bats: scientists". The People's Daily. 11 September 2005. from the original on 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
External linksedit
ParaPundit: Conspiracy theories in China
San Francisco Chroncle's report
Article by Richard D. Fisher Jr. for The Jamestown Foundation.
(simplified Chinese)
Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reports the conspiracy theory and Hou's assertion
March 14, 2024
sars, conspiracy, theory, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, factual, accuracy, disputed, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, h. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article s factual accuracy is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The SARS conspiracy theory began to emerge during the severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS outbreak in China in the spring of 2003 when Sergei Kolesnikov 1 a Russian scientist and a member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences first publicized his claim that the SARS coronavirus is a synthesis of measles and mumps According to Kolesnikov this combination cannot be formed in the natural world and thus the SARS virus must have been produced under laboratory conditions Another Russian scientist Nikolai Filatov head of Moscow s epidemiological services had earlier commented that the SARS virus was probably man made 2 3 However independent labs concluded these claims to be premature since the SARS virus is a coronavirus 4 5 6 whereas measles and mumps are paramyxoviruses 7 8 The primary differences between a coronavirus and a paramyxovirus are in their structures and method of infection thus making it implausible for a coronavirus to have been created from two paramyxoviruses The widespread reporting of claims by Kolesnokov and Filatov caused controversy in many Chinese internet discussion boards and chat rooms Many Chinese believed that the SARS virus could be a biological weapon manufactured by the United States which perceived China as a potential threat 9 The failure to find the source of the SARS virus further convinced these people and many more that SARS was artificially synthesised and spread by some individuals and even governments Circumstantial evidence suggests that the SARS virus crossed over to humans from Asian palm civets civet cats a type of animal that is often killed and eaten in Guangdong where SARS was first discovered 10 11 Supporters of the conspiracy theory suggest that SARS caused the most serious harm in mainland China Hong Kong Taiwan and Singapore regions where most Chinese reside while the United States Europe and Japan were not affected as much However the highest mortality from SARS outside of China occurred in Canada where 43 died 12 13 Conspiracists further take as evidence the idea that although SARS has an average mortality rate of around 10 around the world no one died in the United States from SARS However there were only 8 confirmed cases out of 27 probable cases in the US 10 of 8 people is less than 1 person 14 15 16 Regarding reasons why SARS patients in the United States experienced a relatively mild illness the U S Centers for Disease Control has explained that anybody with fever and a respiratory symptom who had traveled to an affected area was included as a SARS patient in the U S even though many of these were found to have had other respiratory illnesses 16 17 Tong Zeng an activist with no medical background authored the book The Last Defense Line Concerns About the Loss of Chinese Genes published in 2003 18 In the book Zeng suggested researchers from the United States may have created SARS as an anti Chinese bioweapon after taking blood samples in China for a longevity study in the 1990s 18 The book s hypothesis was a front page report in the Guangzhou newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily 18 Coronaviruses similar to SARS have been found in bats in China suggesting they may be their natural reservoir 19 See also editMisinformation related to the COVID 19 pandemicReferences edit SARS virus was created in weapons lab Russian scientist Rediff Archived from the original on 6 October 2018 Retrieved 6 October 2018 SARS could be biological weapon experts ABC News April 12 2003 Archived from the original on 2011 05 30 Retrieved 2007 08 23 Sars biological weapon www news24 com 11 April 2003 Archived from the original on 6 July 2007 Retrieved 2007 08 16 Marco A Marra Steven J M Jones Caroline R Astell et al 1 May 2003 The Genome sequence of the SARS associated coronavirus Science 300 5624 1399 1404 Bibcode 2003Sci 300 1399M doi 10 1126 SCIENCE 1085953 ISSN 0036 8075 PMID 12730501 Wikidata Q29619007 Coronavirus belongs to same family as Sars 18 February 2013 Archived from the original on 21 February 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2013 Coronaviruses pathmicro med sc edu Archived from the original on 24 May 2005 Retrieved 8 March 2018 Paramyxovirus Information www stanford edu Archived from the original on 18 January 2012 Retrieved 8 March 2018 Measles World Health Organization Archived from the original on 3 February 2015 Retrieved 8 March 2018 Speculation SARS leaked from bio weapon program Melbourne theage com au May 1 2003 Archived from the original on 2016 03 21 Retrieved 2007 08 16 WHO More evidence of civet cat SARs link CNN January 17 2004 Archived from the original on December 1 2004 Retrieved 2007 08 16 China scientists say SARS civet cat link proved Reuters 23 November 2006 Archived from the original on 2008 04 06 Retrieved 2007 08 16 WHO Summary of probable SARS cases with onset of illness from 1 November 2002 to 31 July 2003 www who int Archived from the original on 24 June 2011 Retrieved 8 March 2018 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS Cumulative Probable Deaths GlobalHealthFacts org Archived from the original on 2013 01 26 Retrieved 2013 02 18 Al Juhaishi Atheer Majid Rashid Aziz Noor D 2022 09 12 Safety and Efficacy of antiviral drugs against covid 19 infection an updated systemic review Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal 1 2 45 55 doi 10 55940 medphar20226 ISSN 2957 6067 S2CID 252960321 Archived from the original on 2023 02 20 Retrieved 2023 01 27 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS Cumulative Probable Cases GlobalHealthFacts org Archived from the original on 2013 01 26 Retrieved 2013 02 18 a b Update Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Worldwide 2003 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report U S Centers for Disease Control April 4 2003 Archived from the original on 2017 06 17 Retrieved 2007 08 23 Why SARS Death Rate Lower In United States futurepundit com April 3 2003 Archived from the original on 2015 09 11 Retrieved 2007 08 23 a b c Sheridan Prasso 16 February 2004 Old Habits The New Republic Archived from the original on 2017 07 07 Retrieved 2007 08 16 also see The New Republic Archived from the original on 2007 09 29 Retrieved 2008 09 12 SARS like coronavirus found in wild bats scientists The People s Daily 11 September 2005 Archived from the original on 2011 05 12 Retrieved 2007 08 16 External links editParaPundit Conspiracy theories in China San Francisco Chroncle s report SARS Crisis Don t Rule Out Linkages To China s Biowarfare Article by Richard D Fisher Jr for The Jamestown Foundation People s Daily s report on Tong Zeng s book simplified Chinese Singapore s Lianhe Zaobao reports the conspiracy theory and Hou s assertion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SARS conspiracy theory amp oldid 1187867631, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
