Tracking Down the Origin of Wuhan Coronavirus
To what extent is the Chinese Communist Party responsible for the scourge of the coronavirus? The premise of this conspiracy theory looms large in the intriguing documentary Tracing the Origins of the Wuhan Coronavirus.
The film challenges the official account that the virus originated in a seafood and wild animal market in Wuhan, China. A major challenge to this claim comes from the first reported case of mysterious pneumonia: a patient with absolutely no exposure to the market. In fact, this was the case in the first 14 of the 41 reported cases. If the data is correct, it may indicate that the virus was transmitted to humans as early as November 2019.
Why is this theory gaining traction when more than a third of the first coronavirus cases have nothing to do with these markets? The filmmakers found China’s early crackdown and eventual announcement of the infection compounded. This flow of information was directed by a small group of several Communist Party propagandists.
From there the intrigue deepens. Scientists have since deciphered the genetic sequence of the new virus and found it bears striking resemblance to other SARS-like infections that originated in bats. Curiously, the amino acid composition of COVID-19 is 100% identical to one of the infections found at a Chinese military university in 2018. This has led many to believe that the new virus must have been created on purpose.
What follows is an in-depth study of the construction of the synthetic virus and its susceptibility to cross-species infection. Along the way is the Chinese Communist Party’s presence and desire to remain silent, unwilling to publish hard scientific evidence. A series of particularly egregious exchanges between scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology further bolsters the film’s thesis about conspiracy theories.
The Origins of the Wuhan Coronavirus traces through the timeline of this new virus week after week to exploit countless inconsistencies and oddities. With a haunted soundtrack and a steady stream of supposedly convincing research and insights, the film offers thoughtful food, especially for those with a high tolerance for intriguing narratives.
Directed by: Natalia Hu, Karen Chen
