WHO report says animals likely source of COVID

BEIJING (AP) – Joint WHO-China study into the origins of COVID-19 indicates transmission of the virus from bats to humans by another animal is the most likely scenario and that a laboratory leak is “extremely unlikely,” according to a draft obtained by the Associated Press.

The results were largely in line with expectations and left many questions unanswered, but the report provided in-depth details of the reasoning behind the team’s conclusions. The researchers offered additional research in all areas except the laboratory leak hypothesis.

The report’s release has been repeatedly delayed, raising questions as to whether the Chinese side was trying to skew the findings to avoid blame for the pandemic falling on China. A World Health Organization official said late last week he expected it to be ready for release “in the next few days.”

The PA received what appeared to be an almost final version on Monday from a Geneva-based diplomat and a WHO member country. It was not clear if the report could still be edited before it was released. The diplomat did not wish to be identified as he was not authorized to publish it before it was published.

The researchers listed four scenarios in order of probability of emergence of the virus called SARS-CoV-2. Topping the list was transmission from a second animal, which they said was very likely. They assessed the direct spread of bats to humans as likely, and said spread through “cold chain” food products was possible but unlikely.

The closest relative of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in bats, which are known to carry coronavirus. However, the report states that “the evolutionary distance between these bat viruses and SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be several decades, suggesting a missing link.”

He said very similar viruses have been found in pangolins, but also noted that mink and cats are susceptible to the COVID virus, which suggests they could be carriers.

The report is largely based on a visit by a team of international WHO experts to Wuhan, the Chinese city where COVID-19 was first detected, from mid-January to mid-February .

Peter Ben Embarek, the WHO expert who led the Wuhan mission, said on Friday that the report had been finalized and was being verified and translated.

“I hope that in the next few days this whole process will be completed and we can publish it publicly,” he said.