As coronavirus lands in Latin America, Venezuela’s Maduro amps up conspiracy theories
As the coronavirus gains a foothold in Latin America, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro added to the conspiracy theories surrounding the fast-spreading virus, suggesting it was a weapon initially aimed at China.
In a national address late Thursday, Maduro said there was “much global analysis that shows that the coronavirus could be a strain created for biological warfare against China.”
“We have to raise our voice, call out for attention and sound the alarm,” he said. “Let’s hope that the coronavirus isn’t a weapon of war used against China and now against the people of the world in general.”
Maduro’s theory — for which he provided no proof — appears to be the latest twist on a rapidly expanding tapestry of conspiracies in that it makes China the target of the “weapon.”
U.S. commentators, including Rush Limbaugh and Alex Jones, have suggested that the coronavirus, which was first detected in China’s Wuhan province, was a Chinese biological warfare experiment that was either intentionally, or unintentionally, released from a research lab.
Maduro has a history of amplifying unfounded theories. In 2013 he accused the United States of “inducing” the cancer that eventually killed his predecessor Hugo Chávez. And while he launched an investigation to prove it, the government has never provided an update.
Global health officials believe the virus, named COVID-19, started in a food market in Wuhan where both live and dead animals are sold. According to some theories, the disease may have been originally transmitted by bats or pangolins.
Brazil this week became the first country in Latin America to have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Health authorities said a 61-year-old man who had recently visited Italy came back with the virus. Mexico has confirmed two cases.
The World Health Organization says the flu-like virus has infected more than 83,000 people and resulted in more than 2,800 deaths. All but 67 of the fatal cases have been in China. The vast majority of cases are mild and not life threatening.
Johns Hopkins University puts the total confirmed cases at almost 84,000.
But Venezuela has reason to worry. Its healthcare system has been gutted by recession, hyperinflation and the breakdown in basic public services. Many hospitals are struggling to keep the lights on and water running.
Maduro said he created a presidential commission to confront the virus and appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez at its head. He also said the country has plenty of kits to detect coronavirus.
“We have a plan to confront this attack,” he said.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
