WHO assured more studies and audits are needed in laboratories in China to determine the origin of COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday asked to realize “laboratory checks“Where the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in China, as part of the next phase of the investigation into the origin of the pandemic.

In a closed-door meeting with representatives of member states of the UN agency, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a priority should be to carry out “checks of laboratories or establishments research activities in the region “. where the first cases were identified in December 2019 ”.

In January, the WHO sent an expert mission to China which failed to clarify the origin of the coronavirus, which has already claimed more than 4 million lives worldwide.

The international organization based in Geneva is facing a growing pressure for further investigation on how covid-19 was born.

“We hope that China will support this new phase of the scientific process by sharing all relevant data in a spirit of transparency. more we expect all member states to support the scientific process by refraining from politicizing it“said Dr Tedros.

In addition to Chinese laboratory controls, WHO wants to conduct “integrated studies covering humans, wild animals, captive and farm animals, and the environment,” and studies that “prioritize areas geographical areas where SARS-CoV -2 circulates was initially indicated and in border areas where a high prevalence of the SARS-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV) was found in non-human reservoirs ”.

The United Nations agency also calls for “Studies related to animal markets in and around Wuhan, including follow-up studies on animals sold in Huanan wholesale markets,” where the first outbreak of the outbreak was detected.

He also asked “Studies linked to activities aimed at retracing the history of animals, accompanied by additional work in epidemiology and molecular epidemiology, including the first sequences of the virus.”

Beyond the wishes of the WHO, the new phase promises to be risky, China having rejected on Friday Tedros’ criticism of his alleged lack of cooperation.

With information from AFP

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