The U.S. State Department said late on Friday that it had “reason to believe” that scientists in Wuhan, China, may have been infected with the coronavirus in the fall of 2019, but Beijing has been working hard to avoid a transparent investigation into the origins of the virus.
In a statement, the agency indicated that it believed that several researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and other seasonal diseases.
“O [Chinese Communist Party] it prevented independent journalists, researchers and global health officials from interviewing WIV researchers, including those who were sick in the fall of 2019, “said the State Department.” Any reliable inquiry into the origin of the virus must include interviews with researchers and complete accounts of their previously unreported illnesses. “
The virus was first detected in Wuhan in late 2019 – China confirmed on December 31 that it was treating a pneumonia-like virus.
The first death was reported on January 11.
In March, the South China Morning Post said the first person infected with the disease may have contracted on November 17, 2019.
At the end of March, the United States had more confirmed cases than any other country.
WHO SCIENTISTS COME TO WUHAN TO INVESTIGATE THE ORIGINS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
The US government said there are still many unknowns about COVID-19, including whether the outbreak potentially started through contact with infected animals or a laboratory accident. Accidental laboratory infections, the State Department noted, have already caused previous outbreaks in China.
The ruling Communist Party maintains strict control over information and is particularly concerned about possible revelations about the management of the virus, which could open it up to international criticism and financial demands.
China suppressed independent reports on the outbreak and published little information about its search for the origins of the virus.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
This week, the World Health Organization sent scientists to Wuhan to conduct an investigation into the origins and spread of COVID-19, after months of discussions back and forth with Beijing.
China has firmly rejected calls for an independent external investigation. The WHO chief recently expressed impatience with the time it took China to make the necessary arrangements for the team of experts to visit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.