Germany has had a virological research institute on the island of Riems in the Baltic Sea since 1910. It is an institution of the highest Biosicherheits-Stoves 4which is operated by the Friedrich Löffler Institute specifically with regard to animal health. In order to find the deadliest pathogens in the world, one does not have to travel to dubious facilities in Wuhan, it is enough to look on the doorstep.
There are not very many institutions in the world that deal with pathogens of security level 4. One of them is the now questionable celebrity Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China. But you don’t have to travel far and wide to find viruses and bacteria whose outbreak could actually endanger humanity. Germany maintains four such institutions and is at least on the Wikipedia list On place 2 of the world.
Strict rules
Strict rules apply to an institute of security level 4, both for the staff employed there and the structural conditions. the entire island of Riems is a restricted area, to which only selected people have access. The area is 1,250 meters long and 300 meters wide. It is one of the oldest research centers in virology. According to international reports, the security precautions of the level 4 facilities should be exemplary.
Research on numerous killer viruses
The history of the place is grim. During the Second World War, research was carried out there into biological weapons for mass destruction, and the GDR communists later controlled the island. It is said that vaccines were developed around this time. Today, among other things, the coronavirus is being researched there. To the others killer viruses resident there counting FMD, ASFV, Ebola, Nipah, Rift Valley fever, BSE, Bluetongue virusRabies Q fever, Flu, Pest, Francisella tularensis, Milzbrand and more.
Did bird flu viruses escape in 2006?
Officially, there have never been any significant security incidents in Riems. In 2006, over two thousand dead birds were found on the nearby island of Rügen. The bird flu virus H5N1 was detected in many of the carcasses examined. It was a mystery then. How did the virus get to Rügen? To be on the safe side, a flight ban has been issued for helicopters. One looks in vain for a connection with the research facility in Riems, the mainstream media kindly asked no questions. To speculate about it is considered a conspiracy theory.
Since then, experts have expected “catastrophic pandemic”
Many research institutions are playing with the H5N1, the purpose is mostly unclear. In 2007, modified human viruses with parts of the deadly avian flu almost “escaped” from a laboratory in Austin, Texas (USA). The reason was human error, a security protocol was not followed. According to “Standard“There was a discussion about such experiments at the time. What is exciting about this old article is the statement: Such virus strains have already led to worldwide epidemics several times in history, sometimes with catastrophic effects. According to many experts, such a pandemic is long overdue. That changed at the end of 2019.
Experiments with mosquitoes
On Riems, for example, are also Experiments with infected mosquitoes accomplished. This is used to investigate the West Nile virus, the dengue virus or the chikungunya virus. This brings to mind the research interests of Bill Gates, about which we have already reported several times (Bill Gates: would-be world ruler unleashed genetic mosquitoes on the audience). And, of course, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also has connections to Riems.
For example, on the occasion of an award ceremony in 2014, where the director of vaccine development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Penny Heaton, presented a EUR 2 million prize from the EU Commission to the Friedrich Löffler Institute and CureVac. Even then, it was about mRNA technology. In 2015 the Gates Foundation transferred € 46 million to Curevac. It is not the only cooperation partner of the FLI (Friedrich Löffler Institute), which as a federal research institute (independent higher federal authority) is financed mainly by the taxpayer.
In conclusion: No, we do not believe to the conspiracy theory that viruses don’t exist. This theory is undoubtedly entertaining, but logically not tenable.
