WHO calls on China to share data on Covid-19 origins Five years after pandemic outbreak

Five years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has once again urged China to provide further transparency and share critical data regarding the origins of the virus.

The WHO emphasized the importance of this action as a “moral and scientific imperative” in a statement released on December 30, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Covid-19, which has claimed over seven million lives, disrupted global economies and overwhelmed health systems, continues to shape the world’s approach to public health. In its statement, the WHO reiterated that understanding the origins of the virus is vital for future pandemic preparedness.

“We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of Covid-19. This is a moral and scientific imperative,” the WHO stressed. “Without transparency, sharing, and cooperation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.”

China, however, rejected the WHO’s remarks, asserting that it had been transparent from the very beginning. In a response issued on December 31, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated, “Five years ago, China immediately shared epidemic information and viral gene sequences with the WHO and the international community. We shared our prevention, control, and treatment experience without holding anything back, making a huge contribution to the international community’s pandemic-fighting efforts.”

The origins of Covid-19 remain a topic of debate, with the WHO recalling that on December 31, 2019, its country office in China first received information from health authorities in Wuhan regarding cases of “viral pneumonia.” Over the subsequent months and years, the pandemic unfolded, profoundly altering global life.

As the world reflects on the anniversary of the pandemic’s start, the WHO has urged a moment of recognition for those affected. “Let’s take a moment to honour the lives changed and lost, recognize those who are suffering from Covid-19 and Long Covid, express gratitude to the health workers who sacrificed so much to care for us, and commit to learning from Covid-19 to build a healthier tomorrow,” the statement read.

In recent discussions, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed whether the world is now better prepared for a future pandemic. His response was mixed. “The answer is yes, and no,” he said at a press conference. While acknowledging that the world has learned many painful lessons from Covid-19, Ghebreyesus cautioned that certain vulnerabilities remain. “If the next pandemic arrived today, the world would still face some of the same weaknesses and vulnerabilities that gave Covid-19 a foothold five years ago,” he noted.

Meanwhile, efforts to create a global pandemic preparedness treaty have progressed, with countries working towards an agreement on how to prevent and respond to future pandemics. Although negotiators have resolved most aspects of the treaty, disagreements remain, particularly over the sharing of emerging pathogens and the equitable distribution of pandemic-related resources, such as vaccines.

The negotiations, which began in 2021 following the devastation of Covid-19, are set to conclude by May 2025. The treaty aims to ensure that countries swiftly share information and collaborate on pandemic response, though significant challenges remain in ensuring fair and timely access to necessary resources, particularly between wealthy and low-income nations.

By Vugar Khalilov