WHO urged China to release data on the first cases of COVID-19: “It is vital to know how the pandemic started”

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a statement in which urges China – and all countries – to support exchange of raw data on first coronavirus cases to be able to cope, by learning the lessons of this pandemic, to health crises of zoonotic origin in the future.

‘Specifically, to meet the’laboratory hypothesis‘, it is important to have access to all the data and to consider the best scientific practices and to observe the mechanisms that the WHO has already put in place “the United Nations health agency said, adding that China had suggested that the organization was acting under political pressure to study the origins of the virus.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has been working with Member States and the scientific community to better understand how this pandemic started so that we can be better prepared for the next one.

After the publication of joint report WHO-China phase one studies on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in March 2021, the organization described the next round of studies to be carried out and continue discussions with Member States and experts on next steps.

Moving forward, WHO calls on all governments to depoliticize the situation and cooperate to speed up the original studies and, more importantly, that they work together to develop a common framework for future emerging pathogens with pandemic potential.

The priority is for scientists to build on the first phase of the studies, implement the recommendations outlined in the March 2021 report and accelerate scientific efforts in all hypotheses.. Finding the origins of any new pathogen is a difficult scientific process that requires collaboration, dedication and time.

“Tracing the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is not and should not be an exercise in attributing blame, accusations or political clarifications. It is vitally important to know how the COVID-19 pandemic started, to set an example in establishing the origins of all future animal-human overflow events, ”the statement said.

He adds that countries have a collective responsibility to work together in a true spirit of partnership and to ensure that scientists and experts have the space they need to find the source of the worst pandemic in a century. Building on what has already been learned, the next round of studies would include a more in-depth look at raw data from first cases and sera from potential first cases in 2019. Access to data is vitally important to improve our understanding of science and should in no way be politicized.

WHO is working with several countries that have reported the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in samples of biological samples stored from 2019. For example, in Italy, the WHO facilitated an independent evaluation by international laboratories of the results of one such study, which included a new blind test of pre-pandemic blood samples. Sharing raw data and allowing samples to be retested in laboratories outside of Italy reflects scientific solidarity at its best and is no different from what we encourage all countries, including China, to support. so that we can advance the studies from the origins quickly and efficiently.

the International Scientific Advisory Group on the Origin of New Pathogens, oh SAGO, is a new WHO advisory group that He will be responsible for advising WHO on the development of a global framework to systematically study the emergence of future emerging pathogens with pandemic potential. For SARS-CoV-2, it will support the early completion of the recommended studies outlined in the March 2021 report.

By launching an open call for applications for SAGO, WHO provides a transparent basis for the new Scientific Advisory Group with which they expect all member states to get involved. The body too looks forward to continuing previous missions to China for SARS-CoV-2, as well as other missions investigating the origins of, for example, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, avian influenza, Lassa and ‘Ebola.

This open call aims to ensure that a wide range of scientific knowledge and skills are identified to advise WHO on the studies needed to identify the origins of any future emerging or re-emerging pathogens with pandemic potential.

China and several other member states have written to the WHO regarding the basis for further study of the “laboratory hypothesis” of SARS-CoV-2. They also suggested that the study of origins has become politicized or that the WHO has acted under political pressure.

Reviewing the Phase 1 study report, WHO states that determined that there was not enough scientific evidence to rule out either hypothesis. Concretely, to answer the “laboratory hypothesis”, it is important to have access to all the data and to consider the best scientific practices and to observe the mechanisms that the WHO has already put in place..

“Analyzing and improving laboratory safety and protocols around the world, including China, is important to our collective biosafety and safety.” clarified.

Finding the origin of a new virus is an extremely difficult and time-consuming scientific task. Therefore, the WHO statement ends by saying that it is committed to following science, and They call on all governments to put aside the differences and work together to provide all the data and access necessary so that the next round of studies can begin as soon as possible.

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