This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
On April 22, 2020, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed concerns about the security of sensitive laboratories in China, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pompeo refused to rule out the possibility that the deadly virus leaked out of a laboratory in Wuhan, a scenario strongly denied by Beijing.
"You have to remember — these labs are still open inside of China, containing complex pathogens that were being studied. It’s not just the Wuhan Institute of Virology," Pompeo told reporters.
He emphasized the importance of handling these materials in a safe and secure way to prevent accidental release, citing the example of nuclear facilities that undergo rigorous global inspections.
Pompeo also expressed concerns that China has not shared a sample of the initially detected virus, known scientifically as SARS-CoV-2.
"We still do not have a sample of the virus, nor has the world had access to the facilities or other locations where this virus may have originally originated inside of Wuhan," Pompeo said.
