x

COVID-19 Origin: WHO Scientists to Visit China on Thursday

Ten World Health Organization scientists will visit China from Thursday to probe the origins of Covid-19, authorities said Monday, more than a year after the pandemic began and amid accusations Beijing has tried to thwart the investigation.

The long-awaited mission is of great political significance at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has devastated the world, caused almost two million deaths, and brought the global economy to a virtual standstill.

The WHO team “will conduct joint research cooperation on the origins of Covid-19 with Chinese scientists”, the National Health Commission said in a statement that provided no further details.

A last-minute delay to the mission earlier this month earned China a rare rebuke from the head of the WHO.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “very disappointed” China had not authorised the team’s entry — especially as two members were already en route.

Beijing sought to downplay the tension, however, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying calling it a “misunderstanding”.

The WHO experts will have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival, but are expected later to visit Wuhan — the city where the deadly virus was first detected in late 2019.

Virus origins

The US and Australia have led international calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, putting China under significant pressure amid growing calls for accountability.

Beijing has faced international criticism over its lack of transparency during the initial outbreak, although domestically the government has praised its own handling of the outbreak and stifled any criticism.

Government officials have repeatedly said that tracing the origins of the pandemic was a “scientific matter”, and has even pushed theories it originated outside China.

Experts say solving the mystery of how it first jumped from animals to humans is crucial to preventing another pandemic, but China’s tight control of its scientific research leaves little hope of finding definitive conclusions.

There is little dispute that the virus emerged in late 2019 at a wet market in Wuhan where wildlife was sold as food, and the pathogen is believed to have originated in an undetermined bat species.

The quest to detect its origins has also been plagued by conspiracy theories — amplified by US President Donald Trump — that it leaked from a Wuhan virology lab.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

FG, States, LGCs Share N2.001 Trillion From A Gross Total Of N3.836 Trillion For The Month Of July 2025

By Oladosu Adebola Oluwaseun The Federation Account Allocation Committee...

Attack on Katsina Mosque, Killings Condemnable, Speaker Abbas Mourns Worshippers

By Oladosu Adebola Oluwaseun The Speaker of the House...

TCN Takes Anti-Vandalism Campaign to Edo Communities

By Jabiru Hassan The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has...

Muslim Ummah Urged to Love Prophet Muhammad

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto Chief Imam of Buhari Dan Shehu...

Sokoto NUJ Council Discusses Pending Issues at Congress

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto The Sokoto State Council of the...

Sokoto Council Of NUJ Holds Congress As Commissioner Of Police Presents Paper

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto The Sokoto State Council of the...

Benue Assembly Suspends 4 Members As Attempt to Impeach Speaker Fails

23-8- By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi  Benue State House of Assembly has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img