- The agency was previously undecided on how the virus emerged, and the change is included in an update to a 2021 document by the office of the director of National Intelligence, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
- Chinese officials said when the virus was first detected in its country that it started a so-called “wet market” in the city Wuhan, when a shopper bought, then ate a wild bat.
- The market is near the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
- The prevail thought among experts now is the virus was accidentally, not intentionally leaked.
- The Energy Department joins the FBI in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory.
- Four other agencies and a national intelligence panel still have the position the pandemic started as the result of a natural transmission, and two agencies are undecided.
