The logo of the controversial World Health Organization
The World Health Organization should assemble another investigation into the roots of the coronavirus pandemic that looks beyond animal sources, a group of scientists announced in an open letter.
The signatories suggested specific steps on what any new probe should take into account. Suggestions include assuring that a team can begin studies without the "unnecessary presence" of government officials of the host nation, removing any veto powers in the member-selection process, and a mandate for broad access to data, records, and samples.
A joint mission including experts from China and organized with the WHO discovered that the coronavirus probably spread from bats to humans through another animal, and considered a laboratory incident the least likely hypothesis.
Because the study’s intention was defined as examining the zoonotic source of the virus, other theories didn’t get the same attention and the team didn’t fully investigate labs, Peter Ben Embarek, co-leader of the trip, announced after a report was issued in March.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remarked afterward that the inquiry didn’t adequately analyze the chance of a lab accident before determining it’s most likely the pathogen spread from bats to humans through another animal.
He explained he is ready to deploy additional missions involving specialist authorities. Though, that will need China’s cooperation.
The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first COVID-19 outbreak was identified, is home to a high-security virus lab, and that proximity has prompted former U.S. President Donald Trump and others to speculate on the occasion of a leak. China has denied any connection, floating the alternative assumption that the virus may have entered the nation through frozen-food imports.
The open letter issued Friday was the third from the group. The more than 20 signatories included Steven Quay, chief executive officer at Atossa Therapeutics Inc., which develops treatments for breast cancer and COVID-19, while Jamie Metzl, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, co-organized it.
Meanwhile, The threat for Europe posed by the coronavirus “remains present,” the World Health Organization announced Thursday, notwithstanding a recent drop in new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the region.
“It is 462 days since the first Covid-19 cases were reported. Based on numbers of confirmed cases, 5.5% of the entire European population have now had Covid-19, while 7% have completed a full vaccination series,” WHO’s regional director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, stated in a press conference on Thursday.
“But even as new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths decline, the threat remains present,” Kluge warned.
The virus still carries the potential to cause devastating effects, he continued, remarking that close to half of all reported infections in Europe since the pandemic began have actually come during the first four months of this year.
Written By BlabberBuzz | Saturday, 01 May 2021
