Key takeaways:
- Scientists from around the world have examined genetic data from samples collected at a market close to where the first human cases of Covid-19 were detected in China, suggesting that the pandemic originated from animals, not a lab.
- The analysis has not yet been verified by other experts, and has not appeared in a peer-reviewed journal, but provides further evidence that the virus may have originated from animals.
- The WHO has called for more research into the origins of the virus, and for countries to share data and samples, as well as invest in public health systems to prevent future pandemics.
Scientists from around the world have examined genetic data from samples collected at a market close to where the first human cases of Covid-19 were detected in China. Their analysis suggests that the pandemic originated from animals, not a lab.
At a Friday press briefing, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the data does not provide a definitive answer to how the pandemic began, but that “every piece of data is important to moving us closer to that answer.” He also criticized China for not sharing the genetic information earlier, adding that “this data could have and should have been shared much earlier.”
The analysis has not yet been verified by other experts, and has not appeared in a peer-reviewed journal. However, the findings are significant as they provide further evidence that the virus may have originated from animals, and not from a lab.
The WHO has called for more research into the origins of the virus, and for countries to share data and samples. They have also urged countries to invest in public health systems to prevent future pandemics.
The findings from the genetic data analysis provide an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the virus and how it spread.
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