JENEWA, KOMPAS.com – United States (US) and several other countries on Tuesday (30/3/2021) voiced concern over the WHO study (World Health Organization) on the origins of Covid-19.
The joint statement from the countries called for “renewed commitment by WHO and all WHO member countries to access, transparency and timeliness” of Covid-19 research.
The statement was issued by more than a dozen governments, namely the US, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
The joint statement emphasized that the WHO’s mission is very important to advance global health and health security.
All of these parties expressed the full support of experts and their staff, and acknowledged their tireless work to end the Covid-19 pandemic, including understanding how the pandemic started and spread.
“With such an important mandate, it is equally important for us to voice our common concern that the study of international experts on the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which was significantly delayed and did not have access to complete and original data and samples,” the joint statement said. .
Also read: The Origin of Covid-19: WHO Admits the Team in Wuhan is Having Difficulty Accessing Data from China
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday international team of experts who was assigned to travel to Wuhan, China, had problems with data access.
“In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they face in accessing raw data,” he said when meeting with member countries.
“I hope future collaborative studies include more timely and comprehensive data sharing.”
According to Tedros, to understand the earliest cases, scientists would benefit from full access to data including biological samples, at least from September 2019 data.
A number of parties have previously raised concerns about the level of cooperation WHO has received from China. Meanwhile the organization has largely avoided criticism of “The Land of the Bamboo Curtain.”
Concerns have been simmering since early January. Precisely when the postponement of the research had to be done, after Chinese officials did not give the team the necessary permission to visit the country to carry out its mission. The problem is then resolved.
Also read: WHO Report in Wuhan: “Very Low” Probability of Covid-19 Origins from Contamination of Frozen Food
Education published on Tuesday (30/3/2021), detailing four possible routes of entry of the virus to humans.
First, through direct transmission from animal sources. Second, through transmission from infected intermediate animal hosts. All three spread through cold or frozen food chain products. Lastly because of a laboratory accident.
The study concluded that the intermediate animal host theory “is likely to be the” pathway. Whereas laboratory theory is a “very unlikely path”.
US News & World Report on Wednesday (31/3/2021) reported a joint statement issued by 14 countries reiterating that it is very important for independent experts to have full access to all data, related to humans, animals and the environment, research.
That access includes personnel involved in the early stages of the outbreak who are relevant to determining how this pandemic emerged.
“With all the data in hand, the international community can independently assess the origins of Covid-19, learn valuable lessons from this pandemic, and prevent the future devastating consequences of a disease outbreak.”
Also read: WHO Requests that AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 Vaccine Is Still Used
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