TI have World Health Organization announced on Thursday that its most recent investigation into the origin ore COVID-19 was inconclusive due to lack of data from Chinawhich is another setback in the organization’s years-long effort to figure out how the pandemic started.
All available evidence indicated that the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 originated in animals, most likely bats. QUEEN expert group report similar to BUT the agency’s previous work on the topic in 2021 after a trip to China.
Due to a lack of data, especially from China, where the first cases were reported in December 2019, it was not possible to determine how the virus was first transmitted to humans.
The findings are likely to raise doubts about the virus’s ability to trace its source.
They will also add urgency to efforts to overhaul the WHO and its health emergency procedures as the organization tries to rebuild its reputation after years of criticism for its handling of the pandemic.
The first of several reports expected from the group is also about developing a better way to investigate the origin of future outbreaks, the WHO said.
This information can help prevent future outbreaks.
According to the report, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus twice wrote to the Chinese government seeking more information. According to the authors, China also provided some data upon request.
in Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center argues that the origin of the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of at least 6 million people, has become politicized. Scientists say it is very important to find out what happened in order to prevent future outbreaks.
However, the panel Scientific Advisory Group on the Origin of New Pathogens (SAGO) stated that this was not possible due to lack of data. They also say the investigation “such a long time after the initial outbreak” raises “recognized concerns” but their work will continue.
The report says there is no new information about the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 was introduced to humans as a result of a laboratory incident, and “it remains important to consider all reasonable scientific evidence” when evaluating this possibility.
It includes a footnote describing how group members from Brazil, China, and Russia disagreed that more research into the laboratory hypothesis was needed and suggested that nothing had changed since the previous study. WHO-China a joint origin report released in March 2021, reflecting the political controversy that plagued the compilation of the report.
In addition to the findings on COVID-19, the latest report includes a framework for pinpointing the sources of future outbreaks, which the WHO says is the team’s primary goal.