World Health Organization (WHO) remains keen to get to the bottom of what caused the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. The WHO team confirms the People’s Republic shared information with them from unpublished studies. However, it remains reticent to discuss the possibility of a lab accident. What can we deduce from this fresh information from China about the outbreak?
The China Outbreak In The Light of Fresh Information
New York Times confirms World Health Organization’s position as follows:
- Bats likely carried an ancestor of the coronavirus. This may have then spilled over into a mammal sold at a wildlife market.
- But more China data is needed to study how the virus spread to people. This includes the possibility of a lab leak.
However, the media goes on to say “gaps in Chinese reports make it difficult to determine when and where the outbreak emerged.” Accurate and complete data, as we know is critically important to understanding how future pathogens may emerge on us.
But Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead is more positive. She believes the latest report is “just the start of their work.” That’s because the WHO team anticipates more openness to the lab leak than before. Although such an incident remains “extremely unlikely”.
The Road Ahead To Investigating This Further
First, it’s important to appreciate the WHO study report does not provide any fresh data suggesting a lab leak. However, it’s clear the team remains curious, and will follow up on any evidence that becomes available. Perhaps that’s because other reports suggest several species susceptible to the virus were present at the time.
Chinese authorities reacted swiftly to the outbreak, and disinfected the meat market where it occurred. The subsequent total demolition may have destroyed any evidence forever. Therefore, we will probably never know what exactly actually happened in Wuhan that day.
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