Studies published on Tuesday concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic began in China’s Wuhan market. This is an element to add “to the scientific investigation” on the origins of the pandemic but not a definitive proof, underlined the WHO on Wednesday.
“All hypotheses remain on the table,” explained Dr. Michael Ryan, in charge of emergency situations at WHO during a press briefing in Geneva.
“It’s a science detective story (…) every new piece of information adds to the big picture and every new piece of information, new science or new study can advance one hypothesis or another,” acknowledged the doctor. Ryan. But he adds that “all hypotheses remain on the table until one can be proven to be the correct explanation.”
The first of two studies published Tuesday in the prestigious journal Science is a geographical analysis showing that the first cases detected in December 2019 were concentrated around the market. The second is a genomic analysis of the virus from the first cases, showing that the virus is very unlikely to have circulated widely in humans before November 2019.
The debate has raged since the start of the pandemic between experts, who are still seeking almost three years later to elucidate the mystery of the origin of the virus. In addition to the camp defending the thesis of the market there are also supporters of the theory of a leak from a laboratory in the city.
“How to better prepare for the future”
Dr Maria van Kerkhove, in charge of coordinating the fight against Covid-19 within the WHO, stressed that there was still a lot to be done. “For us, what is really critical is to investigate further in China, to investigate further in Wuhan and the markets in Wuhan,” insisted the doctor.
She recalled in particular that the WHO would like to have access to serological samples from people who worked in the markets, from those who were in contact with animals likely to transmit the disease, but also to have more information on the animals sold on these markets, the farms where they were raised, etc.
“We need to do more studies in China and elsewhere,” she insisted, while the Chinese authorities have so far only authorized a single joint investigation on the spot and have not given access to serological data requested by the WHO.
“The goal is not just to know how this pandemic started, but it is to know how to better prepare for the future,” recalled the doctor.
This article has been published automatically. Sources: ats / afp