WHO asks China to share more data on Covid origin

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked China to share relevant data on Covid-19, saying it is sure that Beijing has more data on the origins of coronavirus.

"Without full access to the information that China has, ...all hypotheses are on the table," AFP quoted WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as telling reporters in Geneva.

"That's WHO's position and that's why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this," he said, insisting that if Beijing does provide the missing data "we will know what happened or how it started."

There are two dominant theories put forward by experts on the origins of the virus. According to the theory number one, SARS-CoV-2 is the result of a natural zoonotic spillover. Whereas as per the second theory, the virus infected humans as a consequence of a research-related incident.

Last month, a new analysis of genetic samples collected from a seafood market in central China's Wuhan city showed the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in raccoon dogs sold at the venue, strengthening the case for the natural origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a team of international experts.

The New York Times said in a report on Thursday that genetic data was drawn from swabs taken from in and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market starting in January 2020, "shortly after the Chinese authorities had shut down the market because of suspicions that it was linked to the outbreak of a new virus."

The new evidence comes weeks after an intelligence assessment from the US Department of Energy pointed out that an "accidental laboratory leak" from a virology laboratory in Wuhan was most likely the cause of the pandemic.

While the animals had been cleared out from the market, researchers took swabs from the walls, floors, metal cages and carts used for transporting animal cages, the report said.

"In samples that came back positive for the coronavirus, the international research team found genetic material belonging to animals, including large amounts that were a match for the raccoon dog," it said, quoting three scientists involved in the analysis.

According to WHO's technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove, the new data provided "clues", but no clear answers, insisting that the data "collected in January and February 2020, more than three years ago" should have been shared long ago.

"Without information and data, it's very difficult for us to make a proper assessment and give a concrete answer. And in the present time, we don't have a concrete answer of how the pandemic began," she said.

However, she highlighted that China's "incredible scientists" had conducted far more studies and collected much more data that could be relevant in the search. "We know there is more information that's out there," she said. "We need scientists, public health professionals and governments to share this information. This is not a game."

However, China has called the suggestion that COVID-19 began in a laboratory "baseless" and countered that the virus originated in American facilities, which were also known to be researching coronaviruses in animals.

The first case of Covid-19 was reported in Wuhan in 2020.

With inputs from agencies