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Lab Leak 'More Likely' Origin of COVID-19, Says Former Biden Adviser Dr. Ashish Jha

Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has said he now believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental <span>lab leak</span> than by natural transmission.

His comments come after last week's <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/dr-anthony-faucis-personal-journals-reignites-debate-on-covid-19-origin-says-he-overshadowed-president-trump-article-155203216" data-type="tilCustomLink">congressional hearing involving former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>, during which the infectious disease expert invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 100 times as Republicans questioned his handling of the pandemic. Fauci led the scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X.

"Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

Jha stressed that he was not claiming certainty, adding that he believes the pandemic was "not engineered. Not deliberate. Accidental."

"No one in the United States knows for sure. The only people who know for sure are officials in China, and we still need transparency and accountability on that. My best assessment is that it probably was a lab leak."

<h2>Debate Over COVID-19 Origins Continues</h2>

The origin of COVID-19 has remained one of the most debated questions since the pandemic began in 2020. Scientists and public health experts have debated whether the virus emerged through natural transmission—possibly linked to a wildlife market in Wuhan—or from an accidental laboratory leak.

Recently released personal journals of Dr. Fauci have renewed discussion over the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the US pandemic response.

The 1,141-page collection, released by Senator Rand Paul ahead of Fauci's scheduled Senate testimony, covers the period from December 2019 to December 2022.

The journals show Fauci continued receiving updates about the virus's origin while publicly emphasizing the available scientific evidence supporting natural emergence.

Following a conference call with leading virologists, Fauci noted that several experts discussed whether parts of the virus's genome could have evolved naturally. He listed the participants and summarized the debate over the possibility of a laboratory origin.

However, experts say the journals are Fauci's personal contemporaneous notes and do not conclusively establish the origin of COVID-19.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/covid-19-in-india-omicron-rf-5-primarily-affects-throat-unlikely-to-trigger-pneumonia-in-healthy-people-say-experts-article-155138964" data-type="tilCustomLink">COVID-19 In India: Omicron RF.5 Primarily Affects Throat, Unlikely To Trigger Pneumonia In Healthy People, Say Experts</a>

<h2>Key Points From Fauci's Journals</h2>

<ul><li>Fauci recorded discussions in late January 2020 in which several scientists questioned whether SARS-CoV-2 could have originated from a laboratory because of certain genetic features.</li><li>The journals show these possibilities were discussed internally before many scientists later concluded that natural spillover was the more likely explanation.</li><li>The entries do not provide proof that the virus leaked from a laboratory.</li></ul>

"The first infection was in early December and was not connected to the market... Now we know the market was not the source; it was the amplifier. Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans," Fauci wrote.

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-measles-cases-reach-2371-rfk-jr-takes-u-turn-urges-families-to-vaccinate-kids-article-155235414" data-type="tilCustomLink">US Measles Cases Reach 2,371; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate Kids</a>

<h2>Tulsi Gabbard's Declassified Documents</h2>

In June, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/natural-origin-or-lab-leak-gabbard-reignites-covid-origins-debate-claims-fauci-funded-wuhan-lab-research-article-154683911" data-type="tilCustomLink">Tulsi Gabbard</a>, on her final day as US Director of National Intelligence, released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

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Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has said he now believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission.His comments come after last week's congressional hearing involving former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, during which the infectious disease expert invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 100 times as Republicans questioned his handling of the pandemic. Fauci led the scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States."My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X."Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.Jha stressed that he was not claiming certainty, adding that he believes the pandemic was "not engineered. Not deliberate. Accidental.""No one in the United States knows for sure. The only people who know for sure are officials in China, and we still need transparency and accountability on that. My best assessment is that it probably was a lab leak."      My view on COVID origins isn&#39;t new — I&#39;ve held it since my time at the White HouseHere&#39;s the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you somethingBased on strong circumstantial evidence I&#39;ve seen, I think lab leak is much more likely.…&mdash; Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) August 2, 2026 ]]>Debate Over COVID-19 Origins ContinuesThe origin of COVID-19 has remained one of the most debated questions since the pandemic began in 2020. Scientists and public health experts have debated whether the virus emerged through natural transmission—possibly linked to a wildlife market in Wuhan—or from an accidental laboratory leak.Recently released personal journals of Dr. Fauci have renewed discussion over the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the US pandemic response.The 1,141-page collection, released by Senator Rand Paul ahead of Fauci's scheduled Senate testimony, covers the period from December 2019 to December 2022.The journals show Fauci continued receiving updates about the virus's origin while publicly emphasizing the available scientific evidence supporting natural emergence.Following a conference call with leading virologists, Fauci noted that several experts discussed whether parts of the virus's genome could have evolved naturally. He listed the participants and summarized the debate over the possibility of a laboratory origin.However, experts say the journals are Fauci's personal contemporaneous notes and do not conclusively establish the origin of COVID-19.Also read: COVID-19 In India: Omicron RF.5 Primarily Affects Throat, Unlikely To Trigger Pneumonia In Healthy People, Say ExpertsKey Points From Fauci's JournalsFauci recorded discussions in late January 2020 in which several scientists questioned whether SARS-CoV-2 could have originated from a laboratory because of certain genetic features.The journals show these possibilities were discussed internally before many scientists later concluded that natural spillover was the more likely explanation.The entries do not provide proof that the virus leaked from a laboratory."The first infection was in early December and was not connected to the market... Now we know the market was not the source; it was the amplifier. Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans," Fauci wrote.Read More: US Measles Cases Reach 2,371; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate KidsTulsi Gabbard's Declassified DocumentsIn June, Tulsi Gabbard, on her final day as US Director of National Intelligence, released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

lab leak 'more likely' origin of covid-19, says former biden adviser dr. ashish jha

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