WHO Maintains COVID-19 Origin Theories Remain Uncertain After Four-Year Investigation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that all hypotheses concerning the origins of COVID-19 remain open, following an extensive but inconclusive four-year investigation. The delay and lack of crucial data hampered efforts to determine how the pandemic started, with key information from China still unavailable.

Since the virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, understanding its origins has been vital for preventing future outbreaks. The WHO's latest report indicates that, without further data, it is impossible to conclusively identify whether the virus originated from a zoonotic spillover, involving transmission from animals to humans, or from a laboratory leak.

In March 2021, a joint WHO-China investigation suggested that the most likely spillover pathway was from bats to humans through an intermediary species. The report also deemed a lab escape from Wuhan's virology labs as "extremely unlikely." However, the investigation faced widespread criticism for limited transparency and restricted access, especially regarding the lab leak hypothesis.

Subsequently, the WHO established the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) in July 2021. Its recent report emphasizes that without additional requested data—such as viral sequences, information on animals sold at Wuhan markets, and biosafety practices at local laboratories—the exact origin remains unresolved.

WHO officials highlight that understanding exactly how COVID-19 emerged is a moral imperative. Despite ongoing requests, China has not shared comprehensive early-pandemic viral data, which hampers efforts to find definitive answers. International intelligence reports are also being reviewed, but access remains limited.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underlined that the crucial question of the pandemic's start has yet to be answered, even after five years of research. He called on countries, especially China, to be more transparent to better prepare for future pandemics. Meanwhile, the virus continues to evolve, causing new infections, long COVID conditions, and ongoing health challenges.

The WHO remains committed to seeking transparency and collaboration to uncover the origins of COVID-19, recognizing that the knowledge gained could be pivotal in preventing future global health crises.