Covid-19 hunt needs more research and better data-sharing, says WHO chief after Wuhan report fails to find origin
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the research raises ‘further questions’ that demand study and that scientists had trouble gaining access to raw data
- Report concludes that disease was most likely transmitted to humans from bats – either directly or indirectly – and all but rules out controversial lab leak theory
A long-awaited report into the origins of Covid-19 “raises further questions” that need more research, the head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, calling for “more timely and comprehensive” data sharing in the future.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the source of the virus was still unknown and pledged “to leave no stone unturned” to find it.
The report, and its conclusions, have been the subject of intense global scrutiny since the team of international and WHO scientists finished their visit this year to Wuhan, where the virus was identified in late 2019.
The report is the culmination of a 28-day mission to Wuhan, the city where the virus first emerged. WHO member states started calling for an investigation last May, but international inspectors were not able to visit China until January.
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WHO ends Covid-19 mission in Wuhan, says lab leak ‘extremely unlikely’
The report has also been a source of political contention. The US has questioned its independence from the Chinese government, while Beijing has insisted it has been transparent and has accused Washington of politicising scientific work.
“[The report] raises further questions that will need to be addressed by further studies,” said Tedros in a speech to member states on Tuesday.