A World Health Organization (WHO) representative used unusually harsh words to warn China against cooperating in coronavirus research. The top Covid-19 expert at the WHO, Maria Van Kerkhove, criticized in a commentary in the renowned American magazine Science that Chinese scientists had withheld data from virus samples from the metropolis of Wuhan for three years.
“The lack of data disclosure is simply unforgivable,” wrote the epidemiologist, who has been informing the world public about the corona situation since the first infections in Wuhan became known. The WHO only learned about some genetic information from the central Chinese metropolis in mid-March this year, after it was briefly accessible in an international database.
According to Van Kerkhove, the data provide important clues about the importance of a market in Wuhan for the original spread of the virus. However, blood tests of workers at the live animal markets in Wuhan or the farms of origin of the animals are still required.
WHO expert: “Time is running out”
The WHO expert called for the immediate provision of relevant data on the origin of the virus. The more time passes, the more difficult the investigative work, which is important to prevent future outbreaks, becomes. “Time is running out,” she warned.
In early March, statements by FBI Director Christopher Wray in the United States once again fueled speculation about a laboratory error in China as the cause of the corona virus. Van Kerkhove emphasized that as long as there is not enough information, all hypotheses about the origin of the virus will be maintained. China has not yet provided the results of its lab tests. In addition, the WHO still does not have access to raw data on the first corona cases in China.
The question of the origin of the virus has been politicized
Since the start of the pandemic, China has worried that it will be blamed for the global outbreak. The government and state media have since launched a massive disinformation campaign highlighting the possibility that the virus may have come from abroad and not China. Rivalries with the US and debate over the lab thesis have increasingly politicized the question of the origin of the virus. It was not until 2021 that a joint investigation committee with WHO experts could travel to Wuhan. The investigation was not continued.
“WHO continues to urge China and all countries to share all data on the origin of Sars-CoV-2 without delay,” Van Kerkhove wrote. “The world needs to get rid of the blame game.” Instead, she must use all diplomatic and scientific approaches to work together to find solutions and thwart future pandemics.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
