On December 31, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) marked five years since the Covid-19 pandemic began in Wuhan, China, calling on the Chinese government to share critical data regarding the virus's origins. In a statement, the WHO reiterated the importance of cooperation among nations, stating, "This is a moral and scientific imperative.”
WHO Calls for Urgent Data Sharing from China on Covid Origins
WHO Calls for Urgent Data Sharing from China on Covid Origins
Amid the fifth anniversary of the pandemic's emergence, the WHO emphasizes the need for transparency from China to prevent future health crises.
Despite ongoing inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the pandemic's start, China has yet to respond to WHO's call for transparency. Many scientists have theorized that the virus likely jumped from animals to humans, contradicting speculation about a laboratory leak—a theory that China has consistently denied.
Earlier this year, a team of researchers concluded that the Covid outbreak stemmed from infected animals sold at a Wuhan market, based on an extensive analysis of samples. The WHO expressed appreciation for the resilience shown by individuals and health workers during this unprecedented global crisis.
Reflecting back, the organization recounted how the first reports of “viral pneumonia” on December 31, 2019, catalyzed their immediate response, including sharing valuable guidelines with countries by January.
While the WHO declared the Covid-19 crisis an end to the "global health emergency" in May 2023, it continues to warn about the potential for future pandemics, stressing that the world must remain vigilant. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted a grim reminder, stating that the actual death toll could be nearly three times higher than official reports, reiterating the need for proactive health measures.
The organization seeks to honor the lives affected by the pandemic while underscoring the importance of learning from this experience to prepare for any future health challenges.
Earlier this year, a team of researchers concluded that the Covid outbreak stemmed from infected animals sold at a Wuhan market, based on an extensive analysis of samples. The WHO expressed appreciation for the resilience shown by individuals and health workers during this unprecedented global crisis.
Reflecting back, the organization recounted how the first reports of “viral pneumonia” on December 31, 2019, catalyzed their immediate response, including sharing valuable guidelines with countries by January.
While the WHO declared the Covid-19 crisis an end to the "global health emergency" in May 2023, it continues to warn about the potential for future pandemics, stressing that the world must remain vigilant. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted a grim reminder, stating that the actual death toll could be nearly three times higher than official reports, reiterating the need for proactive health measures.
The organization seeks to honor the lives affected by the pandemic while underscoring the importance of learning from this experience to prepare for any future health challenges.
