THREAD: Some of my stories about Canada’s National Microbiology Lab (NML) have been distorted to create a #coronavirus conspiracy theory. One of the 1st mentions was Saturday on Twitter. Businessman Kyle Bass claimed this involved “a husband and wife Chinese spy team”: (1/11) 
In the tweet, which was shared over 12,000 times, he linked to a story I broke in July 2019, revealing that a researcher, her husband, and some of their graduate students, were escorted out of the NML in Winnipeg amid an RCMP investigation. cbc.ca/1.5211567 (2/11)
CBC reporting never claimed the two scientists were spies, or that they brought any version of the #coronavirus to the lab in Wuhan. But the story has spread. One blog post was shared more than 6,000 times on Facebook. The story even made its way onto TikTok. (3/11)
Experts say disinformation is creating “social panic” online. @FuyukiKurasawa of York U, described it as “a social media environment where speculation, rumor and conspiracy theories take over and wash out the factual information that is being promoted online.” (4/11)
As with most conspiracy theories, there is a kernel of truth that is being distorted. TRUTH: Xiangguo Qiu is a medical doctor and virologist from Tianjin, China. She came to Canada for grad school in 1996 and is still affiliated with the university there. (5/11)
TRUTH: Her husband Keding Cheng works at the lab as a biologist. He has published research papers on HIV infections, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), E. coli infections and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome. (6/11)
In October 2019, I reported that scientists at the NML sent live Ebola and Henipah viruses to Beijing on a flight on March 31. The #coronavirus was not part of this shipment. And there is no confirmation Qiu or Cheng were the scientists behind it. cbc.ca/1.5232674 (7/11)
I also reported that Qiu made at least five trips to China in 2017-18, including one to train scientists/technicians at China's Level 4 lab. She was invited to visit the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory twice a year for two years. cbc.ca/1.5307424 (8/10)
Here's the update: The Public Health Agency of Canada is denying any connection between the @rcmpmb investigation, Qiu’s visits to the lab in Wuhan or any other Canadian research - with the #coronavirus outbreak. The head of media relations said: “This is misinformation.” (9/11)
However, @PHAC_GC would not comment on the current status of Qiu and Cheng or answer further questions, citing privacy reasons. (10/11)
.@HeidiTworek of UBC says public health authorities must do a better job of communicating facts on social media "so you don't end up with a vacuum, which is where disinformation can flourish." Read the full story here: cbc.ca/news/canada/ma… (11/11) #coronavirus
Adding more info just in from @rcmpmb:
I asked if they are investigating any connection between the #coronavirus outbreak and Xiangguo Qiu/Keding Cheng at the NML.
Reply: No and any reporting of such is misinformation.
I asked if they are investigating any connection between the #coronavirus outbreak and Xiangguo Qiu/Keding Cheng at the NML.
Reply: No and any reporting of such is misinformation.
.@rcmpmb response continued: For any questions about the origins of the #coronavirus and on the
biosafety measures in place at the NML, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada.
biosafety measures in place at the NML, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada.
End of response from @rcmpmb: As previously provided: we can confirm that we have received a referral from the PHAC. In order to maintain the integrity of the investigative process, we have no further comment at this time.
