The article by Clayton Baker, co-authored by Brian Hooker, PhD, and Heather Ray, critically analyzes the intricate and deceptive narrative surrounding gain-of-function (GoF) research and its purported justification through “pandemic preparedness.” This research involves altering pathogens found in nature to enhance their transmissibility and virulence, which the authors argue fundamentally contradicts the aims of biological safety governed by the Biological Weapons Convention. Instead of being genuine advancements in public health, the authors contend that GoF research functions as a façade for developing biological weapons under the guise of necessary medical countermeasures. This narrative, akin to a “big lie,” perpetuates a profitable and unsettling industry involving governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions.
To expose this deception, the article uses the case of the monkeypox virus as a pivotal example. Monkeypox has re-emerged as a focal point in 2024, labeled by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a leading candidate for “Disease X,” a term used to denote an unknown pathogen with pandemic potential. Despite prior alarms raised during the 2022 monkeypox outbreak—which ultimately did not escalate as feared—the article argues that a comprehensive understanding of monkeypox’s characteristics reveals the inherent flaws in the narrative supporting GoF research. The 2003 outbreak, caused by infected prairie dogs, was a contained incident that should have prompted prudent public health strategies rather than extending research agendas that could potentially produce dangerous pathogens.
The authors provide a detailed comparison between monkeypox and more rapidly mutating viruses, highlighting monkeypox’s unique biological features: it is a large, relatively stable double-stranded DNA virus with limited transmissibility compared to smaller, more agile RNA viruses like those causing influenza or COVID-19. The transmission patterns of monkeypox have been characterized mainly by close contact, challenging the justification for inducing airborne forms through laboratory manipulation. The case fatality rate for monkeypox has been exaggerated over time; statistics from the 2022 outbreak reveal a much lower risk than often portrayed. The authors argue that in light of this data, public health priorities should focus on diseases like malaria, which pose significantly greater threats yet receive less funding and attention in comparison to the manufactured fear around monkeypox.
In an unsettling turn, the article reveals that prominent figures in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), including Anthony Fauci, have participated in potentially dangerous GoF experiments aimed at enhancing monkeypox virulence. Details emerge about covert approvals for research that could create a hybrid virus combining attributes from more deadly and transmissible strains of monkeypox. This alleged clandestine activity raises concerns not only about ethical research practices but also about the intentions behind such experiments, suggesting they could be aimed at weaponization rather than genuine public health improvement.
The investigation into these experiments, prompted by revelations in 2022, showed a lack of transparency and responsibility among NIAID management. The authors cite the findings of a House Committee which criticized NIAID for its inability to oversee Pathogen research safely, as well as its failure to communicate openly about the associated risks. Despite the serious implications of such oversight failures, the authors argue that the motivations behind these research initiatives remain obscured, hinting at deeper agendas tied to profit and power rather than public welfare.
Ultimately, the overarching theme of the article is a call to critically reevaluate the current trajectory of pandemic preparedness initiatives, particularly focusing on GoF research. By showcasing monkeypox as an example of the broader issues with this approach, the authors contend that the prevailing narrative surrounding pandemic threats is riddled with misrepresentations and contradictions. They conclude that there is an urgent need to end all GoF research, which they assert primarily serves as a cover for potentially illicit bioweapons research under the disingenuous guise of preparing for future disease outbreaks. The article positions the understanding of monkeypox within the larger context of public health, insisting that genuine priorities should lie in addressing existing and more prevalent health threats rather than engaging in laboratory experiments that carry potentially catastrophic consequences.
