'Never Should Have Been Done': Dr. Anthony Fauci Diary Reveals Alarm That US Had Aerosolised Ebola

Dr Anthony Fauci raised concerns in March 2016 after learning that the U.S. Army had conducted tests exposing vaccinated animals to aerosolised Ebola virus, according to diary entries obtained by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul. Fauci wrote that the experiment should have been classified and 'never should have been done in the first place'.

Anthony Fauci Raised Alarm Over Ebola Virus Research

The records show that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, or NIAID, funded the aerosol studies and helped design the Ebola research conducted at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, known as USAMRIID. A Senate fact sheet accompanying the documents said four vaccines were tested in groups of four monkeys exposed to aerosolised Ebola.

The exposure was engineered to drive the virus deep into the lung rather than replicate natural infection, according to the fact sheet. Almost all of the aerosol-challenged animals died, while Fauci later recorded that vaccinated animals showed greater levels of inflammation than those that were unvaccinated.

'What idiots those guys at USAMRIID are,' Fauci wrote in a March 2016 diary entry. 'This should have been a classified experiment that never should have been done in the first place.'

At the time, the United States was planning to deploy Ebola vaccines in West Africa amid ongoing outbreaks. Fauci wrote that officials in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone were 'going batshit' over concerns that the United States could deploy ineffective vaccines in their countries.

Ebola Virus Findings Raised Vaccine Concerns

Fauci later wrote that the Defense Department had noticed greater inflammation in vaccinated animals exposed to aerosolised Ebola. He said further experiments were conducted to determine whether the finding was real and relevant.

'The current experiments were done to find out if this was a real phenomenon and if it was relevant,' Fauci wrote. He added that he believed the work was important for biodefence but had little to do with naturally emerging Ebola outbreaks.

The records indicate that NIAID and Army researchers had not initially considered the research for classification. Fauci raised the issue after being informed of the findings, while some results had already been shared with vaccine manufacturers.

He also objected to the circulation of the research within the government and U.S. embassies, saying the findings could indicate a vulnerability. Fauci referred to the 'foolish DOD people' when discussing the circulation of the data.

The source also makes an important distinction. It says the aerosolised-virus experiments were not considered gain-of-function research because they tested infection pathways rather than genetically altering the underlying virus.

Fauci Diary Entries Detail Demand For Answers

Days after learning about the aerosol studies, Fauci emailed a subordinate demanding information about NIAID's collaboration with the Army researchers. He insisted that he receive 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.

'If someone does not tell me the truth and I find out they did not, then they are gone,' Fauci wrote.

Paul said the records showed NIAID had funded risky research with the Defense Department and argued that additional oversight was needed. 'Americans deserve to know what kind of risky research their taxpayer dollars are funding,' Paul said.

The documents also contain an email from NIAID scientist Peter Jahrling referring to plans to begin a 'CoV study' once 'the lights turn green'. The records do not establish what 'CoV' meant.

The documents were obtained as part of Paul's investigation into COVID-19 origins, dangerous viral research and alleged cover-ups. The material says the memos form part of the committee's examination of viral research and how sensitive findings were handled.