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This position marks a sharp regression from the United Nations Health Organization’s initial assessment of the origin of the pandemic, and comes after many critics accused the WHO of rushing to dismiss or downplay the laboratory leak theory that has put Chinese officials on the defensive.
Last year, the World Health Organization concluded that "highly unlikely" to be COVID-19 It leaked to humans in Wuhan from a lab.
Many scientists believe that the virus was transmitted to humans from batperhaps by another animal.
However, in a report released Thursday, a group of WHO experts said that "basic data" To explain how the pandemic began is still missing.
Scientists also said that the group "It will remain open to any and all scientific evidence that will become available in the future to allow thorough testing of all reasonable hypotheses".
It usually takes years to identify the source of disease in animals. It took more than a decade for scientists to identify the species of bat that was the natural reservoir of the SARS virus, which is from the family COVID-19.
The WHO expert group also noted that since laboratory accidents in the past have caused some outbreaks, a highly politicized theory cannot be ruled out.
The report could revive accusations that the WHO initially over-accepted the Chinese government’s explanations early in the outbreak, ultimately killing millions of people and infecting millions more, forcing dozens of countries into lockdown, and hurting the global economy.
An investigation by the Associated Press concluded that some of the top officials World Health Organization They were frustrated by China during the initial outbreak even as the World Health Organization praised Chinese President Xi Jinping.
They were also upset by the way China sought to clamp down on research into the origins of COVID-19.
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly speculated – without evidence – that COVID-19 started in a Chinese laboratory.
He also accused the World Health Organization of "complicity" with China To cover up the initial outbreak, he cited the WHO’s continued public praise for Beijing despite its refusal to share important data.
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This position marks a sharp regression from the United Nations Health Organization’s initial assessment of the origin of the pandemic, and comes after many critics accused the WHO of rushing to dismiss or downplay the laboratory leak theory that has put Chinese officials on the defensive.
The World Health Organization concluded last year that it was “extremely unlikely” that COVID-19 It leaked to humans in Wuhan from a lab.
Many scientists believe that the virus was transmitted to humans from batperhaps by another animal.
However, in a report released Thursday, a group of WHO experts said “basic data” to explain how the pandemic began is still missing.
The scientists also said the group would “remain open to any and all scientific evidence that will become available in the future to allow comprehensive testing of all reasonable hypotheses.”
It usually takes years to identify the source of disease in animals. It took more than a decade for scientists to identify the species of bat that was the natural reservoir of the SARS virus, which is from the family COVID-19.
The WHO expert group also noted that since laboratory accidents in the past have caused some outbreaks, a highly politicized theory cannot be ruled out.
The report could revive accusations that the WHO initially over-accepted the Chinese government’s explanations early in the outbreak, ultimately killing millions of people and infecting millions more, forcing dozens of countries into lockdown, and hurting the global economy.
An investigation by the Associated Press concluded that some of the top officials World Health Organization They were frustrated by China during the initial outbreak even as the World Health Organization praised Chinese President Xi Jinping.
They were also upset by the way China sought to clamp down on research into the origins of COVID-19.
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly speculated – without evidence – that COVID-19 started in a Chinese laboratory.
He also accused the World Health Organization of “colluding” with China To cover up the initial outbreak, he cited the WHO’s continued public praise for Beijing despite its refusal to share important data.