SARS-CoV-2 Origins: 14 nations voice concerns about WHO study in China

The governments of 14 countries have expressed concerns about the recent SARS-CoV-2 origins study convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in China.

The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Israel, Norway, Denmark, Republic of Korea, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia said in a joint statement Wednesday that the study was conducted too late and did not have access to all, original samples and data.

“Scientific missions like these should be able to do their work under conditions that produce independent and objective recommendations and findings,” said the countries’ joint statement, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. “We share these concerns not only for the benefit of learning all we can about the origins of this pandemic, but also to lay a pathway to a timely, transparent, evidence-based process for the next phase of this study as well as for the next health crises.”

The statement also said the governments have noted the recommendations and findings of the study, including the need for further research into means of transfer from animals into humans, and urge drive for scientists-led next-phase studies.

“It is critical for independent experts to have full access to all pertinent human, animal, and environmental data, research, and personnel involved in the early stages of the outbreak relevant to determining how this pandemic emerged,” the joint statement reiterates. “With all data in hand, the international community may independently assess COVID-19 origins, learn valuable lessons from this pandemic, and prevent future devastating consequences from outbreaks of disease.”

A day earlier, WHO called for more data and further studies on SARS-CoV-2 origins and reiterated that all hypotheses remain open.

“As far as WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This report is a very important beginning, but it is not the end. We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do.”

He added, “Finding the origin of a virus takes time and we owe it to the world to find the source so we can collectively take steps to reduce the risk of this happening again. No single research trip can provide all the answers.”

The study on SARS-CoV-2 origins is available to be downloaded on WHO’s website, here.

Featured image is licensed under Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)