WHO "China Must Share Information on COVID-19 Origins and More"

"Future Epidemic Preparedness Impossible Without Data Sharing"
"Limited Survey Scope and Data Access"

Five years after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which caused the pandemic, was first discovered, the World Health Organization (WHO) has requested China to share disease-related data.

On the 30th (local time), WHO mentioned the situation from five years ago in a press release, stating, "On December 31, 2019, the WHO China office first discovered the mention of 'viral pneumonia' cases on the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission website." It added, "Over the following weeks, months, and years, COVID-19 became a major event that changed our lives and the world." It explained, "From January 2020, immediately after the first case was identified, WHO staff activated emergency systems and informed the world about the disease situation on the 4th of the same month." Furthermore, it elaborated, "Five days later, the first comprehensive guidelines necessary for disease response were issued, and cooperation to announce a blueprint for disease testing was initiated."

World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters. Photo by Yonhap News

WHO introduced that a series of health activities following the initial response can be found on their website and expressed gratitude to the colleagues who made many sacrifices. They pledged to build a healthier tomorrow by learning lessons from COVID-19. At the same time, they urged China to share relevant data to reflect on the lessons of COVID-19. It is known that WHO has been continuously requesting data sharing and access to identify the origin of COVID-19.

They emphasized, "This is a moral and scientific obligation. Without transparent data sharing and cooperation between countries, we cannot adequately prepare for future pandemics." They added, "In early 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak began, an investigation team was dispatched to China, but the scope of the investigation and data access were limited." It is reported that WHO has since requested China to faithfully share information related to the wildlife market suspected as the origin of the outbreak, early patient samples, and genetic sequences.

Meanwhile, on the 26th, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that three years ago, under President Biden's directive, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded that COVID-19 was artificially created in a laboratory. At that time, the National Intelligence Council (NIC) and four intelligence agencies concluded that the natural origin theory, where the virus was transmitted from wildlife to humans, was plausible, but the FBI reportedly took an opposing stance.