WHO still waiting on COVID origins data from China – DW – 12/31/2024
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Five years since COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan, the UN health agency is calling on China to "share data and access so we can understand the origins" of the global pandemic.

Summary

The WHO reiterated calls for China to provide data on COVID-19 origins, five years after the virus emerged in Wuhan.

The lack of transparency has hindered understanding of the pandemic’s early stages. Initial theories pointed to animal-to-human transmission via Wuhan’s wet market, but speculation about a lab leak persists.

A 2021 WHO-China report deemed a lab leak “extremely unlikely,” though no firm conclusions were reached. China has rejected further investigations.

While most scientists favor natural origins, debate remains, complicating efforts to prevent future pandemics.