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Image source,Reuters
Microbiologist Dominic Dwyer said the team received only the “summary” of the analysis.
A member of the World Health Organization (WHO) traceability team told the outside world that China refused to provide key data to the WHO team investigating the origin of Covid-19.
Microbiologist Dominic Dwyer told Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times that the team hoped to obtain raw, unanalyzed data on early COVID-19 cases, which he described as “standard practice.” “But he said the team only received a “summary” of the analysis.
China did not respond to this accusation, but has always insisted on its transparency in the WHO investigation. The United States urged China to provide data on the early stages of the epidemic, saying it was “deeply concerned” by the report.
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The Chinese Embassy in the United States responded sternly on Saturday, criticizing the United States for “greatly damaging” the multilateral cooperative relationship with the WHO in recent years and hampering international cooperation in epidemic prevention. The United States should no longer continue to treat China and other countries that support the WHO “Give advice.”
WHO response
Another member of the WHO team, Professor Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist, responded to the BBC’s question on this matter, but did not respond positively to whether China declined to provide full original data. However, he stressed that the current preliminary data The report is based on several months of research covering thousands of people.
But he also admitted that the preliminary report did not cover all aspects and that everything is still in negotiation with China, and China (National Health Commission) has promised to “reserve samples for this purpose” in addition to the routine retention time limit of samples of blood. The basic reason is that the investigation involves many legal issues and, at the same time, more financial help and more types of investigations (such as blood investigations) are needed.
Koopmans said he did not agree with politicizing the issue, emphasizing that the WHO will release a more detailed report in the near future, at the same time that the WHO investigation has not stopped.
Image source,Reuters
“Obviously this topic is ‘loaded’ and in the spotlight. This includes a variety of views and political debates, which is not easy … but I think we have successfully developed a scientifically focused approach. Cooperative is not ashamed of having difficult discussions on all possible topics, “he said.
Last week, the WHO research team concluded that it is “extremely unlikely” that the new coronavirus leaked from the Wuhan virus laboratory, refuting the controversy surrounding the origin of the virus that circulated last year. Dutch virologist Marianne Koopmans said at the press conference that the origin of the virus must be dealt with rationally and scientifically.
Wuhan was the first place in the world where the new coronavirus was detected at the end of 2019. So far, more than 106 million confirmed cases and more than 2.3 million deaths have been reported worldwide.
What information does the research team want to see?
Professor Dwyer told Reuters that investigators requested raw data on 174 confirmed cases of the new Wuhan crown in December 2019.
Of these early cases, only half came from the southern Chinese seafood market, where the virus was found.
“That’s why we insist on data,” Dwyer said. “But for what reason we can’t get it, I can’t comment. Either for political reasons or because of time or other difficulties … Also, I don’t know if there are other reasons why we can’t get it. Data. People just because of this. Speculate … “
Danish immunologist Thea Kolsen Fischer (Thea Kolsen Fischer) is also a member of the team. She told the New York Times that she believed the investigation was “highly geopolitical.”
She said: “Everyone knows how much pressure there is to open investigations from China and how much responsibility is associated.”
Dwyer said restrictions on data acquisition will be mentioned in the WHO’s final report, which will be released next week.
The team flew to China in early January this year and spent four weeks in China, including quarantining the hotel for the first two weeks.
Image source,Reuters
China responds
Beijing has always insisted on being transparent about the WHO investigation team, but the investigation team’s visit only began after months of negotiations. Furthermore, these experts are closely monitored by the Chinese authorities.
The United States accused China of covering up the severity of the initial outbreak. He also criticized the conditions of the visit, including restrictions on the movement of the WHO investigation team and the freedom to visit members of the local community and medical staff for health reasons.
The White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued a statement on the 13th in which he affirmed that the mission of the WHO has never been as important as now. The White House is deeply concerned about the preliminary results of the WHO epidemic investigation and has questions about the process. to conclude the investigation.
Sullivan stated that this investigative report should be independent and that the results of the expert investigation should not be subject to interference or alteration by the Chinese government. He also stressed that China must provide initial data on the epidemic to help understand the epidemic and prepare for the next pandemic.
So far, more than 106 million confirmed cases and more than 2.3 million deaths have been reported worldwide.
Investigators told the New York Times that the investigation team had major differences with Chinese authorities, including the inability to interview patients or obtain medical records, prompting heated debates between the two parties.
Last month, a WHO interim investigation report criticized China’s initial actions in the epidemic, saying that China “could have used public health measures more effectively.”
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The research team also called for more research on the possibility of “cold chain” transmission, that is, the spread of the new coronavirus through the transport and trade of frozen food. One of the survey members, Dr. Peter Daszak (Peter Daszak) said that the focus of the investigation on the origin of Covid-19 will shift to Southeast Asia.
