The Canadian Connection

"They have told the staff nothing, other than a ridiculous order last summer that we're not allowed to discuss it or speculate about what may be going on."

"Many of us think it is such a huge story that they are trying to keep buried for some pretty serious reasons."

"We just don't know what those are."

Anonymous Public Health Agency employee

"In response to a request from the [Wuhan] institute for viral samples of Ebola and Henipah viruses, the Public Health Agency of Canada sent samples for the purpose of scientific research in 2019."
"The National Microbiology Laboratory [NML] shares samples with other public health laboratories-- as they do with the NML -- to contribute to the advancement of science."
"The [internal] administrative review remains underway. We cannot provide further details."
Eric Morrissette, spokesperson, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg

Xiangguo Qiu, her biologist husband and her students have not returned to work at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, after being escorted out in July. RCMP are still investigating what was described by Public Health Agency of Canada as a possible 'policy breach.' (CBC)

A widely respected and renowned microbiologist, Xiangguo Qiu, regarded as a star performer at the Winnipeg Microbiology Laboratory, Ms.Qiu obtained her medical degree from Hebei University in China, as well as a Masters in Immunology from Tianjin University, before immigrating to Canada n 1996, eventually being offered employment at the federal microbiology laboratory. Some of her colleagues at the laboratory consider her a stellar researcher.

She became famous working with Gary Kobinger, at present a professor at Laval University, when they worked together to develop 'monoclonal antibodies' for the treatment of Ebola, a disease that was devastating populations in Africa. Their work contributed greatly in forming part of the drug Z-Mapp, held to be an effective treatment for the Ebola virus in West Africa. Their research was recognized as groundbreaking, winning them the Governor General's Award for Innovation.

Suddenly, last July, an explosive event occurred. The reason behind it has never been made public, and the Laboratory that employed her continues to advise that the investigation that led to Xianggue Qiu's removal from the laboratory is ongoing, with the RCMP probing the situation. "The matter is still under investigation. No charges have been laid at this time", stated St.Paul Manaigre, a Manitoba spokesperson for the federal policing agency.

Not only was Ms.Qiu, the NML's star performer escorted without explanation out of the laboratory, her husband, biologist Keding Cheng, also employed there, along with several Chinese students studying under Dr.Qiu also were escorted from the premises. A year has passed, and there has been no additional information released in this highly secretive situation at Canada's only BSL-4 (biosafety level 4) disease laboratory.

What is known is that a shipment of Ebola and henipavirus samples had been sent to China at the request of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a high-security research facility for the handling of pathogens. Dr.Qiu was heavily involved with the Wuhan laboratory, taking frequent trips to China in the past few years. A situation that has raised speculation among onlookers who seem to sense a connection with the two laboratories, the esteemed scientist and the emergence of COVID-19.

Aside from the virus shipment to Wuhan in 2019, on another occasion another laboratory employee had been stopped, carrying vials of unidentified material on a flight to China. Neither the Ebola nor henipavirus samples have any connection to COVID-19. Dr.Qiu had been known to make eight trips to China, two of them to Wuhan, revealed by agency records. Most visits were for presentations on the high-profile Ebola issue, which saw the Public Health Agency "at the forefront of the field".

  Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan, China. HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

Records indicate that Dr.Qiu had travelled to Wuhan, invited to train scientists and technicians at the BSL-4 laboratory "for 7-14 days per trip, twice a year for two years". Quite the commitment, but not surprising for a China-born citizen who later emigrated to further her career in Canada, yet remaining loyal both to her country of birth and to the biological sciences, as a medical professional. Dr.Qiu's last visit to Wuhan was to speak at an international virology conference.

With the devastating advent of the global pandemic in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, The U.S. government has raised its concerns that the virus that causes COVID-19 had accidentally 'escaped' the Wuhan lab. In 2018, U.S. diplomats, after visiting the Wuhan lab had cabled Washington of their concerns over the safety procedures at the lab. No evidence, however, exists that the lab in Wuhan tampered with the virus, nor that Dr.Qiu might have any untoward relations with the lab.

Complicating matters even further, American intelligence and science institutions have reported their findings that the virus's cause was a naturally occurring virus likely originating in bats, that leaped the species barrier to humans through an intermediary animal like a pangolins, commonly sold in wild animal markets for human consumption.

And while American authorities have examined possible ties between scientists from China and their country of birth, former colleagues of Dr.Qiu have attested to her loyalty to science and to the laboratory, pointing out the place of international collaboration as an integral part of scientific communication and cooperation worldwide.

Qiu accepts an award from Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, left, at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in 2018, for being part of the team at the National Microbiology Lab that created the Ebola drug ZMapp. (CBC)