Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


WHO Says It Wants to Join China's Probe Into COVID-19 Origins

John Xie

   The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday it wants to take part
   in Beijing's probe into the origins of COVID-19.

   "WHO would be keen to work with international partners and at the
   invitation of the Chinese government to participate in an investigation
   around the animal origins [of COVID-19]" WHO spokesperson Tarik
   Jasarevic told VOA in an email.

   China is reportedly currently conducting its own investigations, but
   has blocked the WHO from joining the probes.

   "It is our understanding that a number of investigations to better
   understand the source of the outbreak in China are currently underway
   or planned, including investigations of human cases with symptom onset
   in and around Wuhan in late 2019, " said Jasarevic. But "WHO is not
   currently involved in the studies in China."

   Beijing has been criticized for a lack of transparency in its handling
   of the pandemic. In the United States, authorities are investigating
   whether the virus might have spread from a sophisticated Wuhan
   laboratory that studies coronaviruses.

   U.S. intelligence agencies do not believe the virus was manmade or
   genetically modified, according to a statement issued by the Office of
   the Director of National Intelligence Thursday. But it said the
   intelligence community will continue to examine emerging information
   and intelligence to "determine whether the outbreak began through
   contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at
   a laboratory in Wuhan."

   Meanwhile, China has strongly dismissed the possibility that the
   coronavirus pandemic originated in the lab.