The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to send more scientists to China to investigate the possible origin of SARS-CoV-2 in a laboratory. According to a recent report by the WHO, it is “likely to very likely” that the virus developed in bats and was transmitted to humans through another animal. The lab theory, which suggests that the virus was artificially created in Wuhan, is considered the “least likely origin” of SARS-CoV-2. However, just days after the release of the expert report on the origins of the novel coronavirus, the WHO chief is calling for a re-examination of the laboratory accident hypothesis in Wuhan.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, cited China’s “lack of cooperation” as the main reason for this call. He stated that “international experts in China have encountered difficulties in accessing raw data.” Therefore, he expects China to share data in a timely and comprehensive manner in the future. In addition to the WHO, fourteen countries, including the United States, Japan, and Canada, have indirectly criticized China for not providing enough support to the WHO scientists during their mission.
The joint statement by these countries emphasizes the need for a transparent process for future health crises and not just learning as much as possible about the origins of this pandemic. The European Union (EU) also considers the WHO report as a “helpful first step” but believes that further investigations into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 are necessary. The EU emphasizes the importance of finding out how the virus was transmitted to humans. The WHO’s plan to send more scientists to China is a significant step towards uncovering the truth behind the origin of the virus.
