WHO releases report on global tracing of Covid origins; calls for further studies

• Integrity Education, Delhi
• 31, Mar 2021

World Health Organisation, WHO has called for further studies, and more data on the origin of SARS-CoV-2 virus which has killed 2.79 Million people around the world so far.
 
WHO has reiterated that all hypotheses remain open on the issue. A report on the global tracing of Covid-19 origins of the international team on their Wuhan field visit, was published yesterday by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
 
The report stems from a Member State resolution adopted by consensus at the World Health Assembly in May 2020 and calling on WHO to identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population. In remarks to Member States, Dr Tedros said as far as WHO is concerned, this report is a very important beginning, but not the end. WHO chief said they have not yet found the source of the virus, and they must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned.
 
Dr Tedros said that finding the origin of a virus takes time and they owe it to the world to find the source so they can collectively take steps to reduce the risk of this happening again.
 
The virus was first detected in Wuhan, in China's Hubei province in late 2019. The joint international team comprised 17 Chinese and 17 international experts from 10 other countries as well as the World Organization for Animal Health and WHO. 
 
Shortly after release of the report, the United States and 13 allies including South Korea, Australia and the UK, voiced concern over the report and urged China to provide full access to experts.

Sources : News on AIR