WHO Fails to Prove Coronavirus Link to Market in Wuhan

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have failed to prove that the seafood market in Wuhan, China, was the source of the first outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus infection. This is stated in the draft report.

As noted in the document, the expert group was unable to determine the exact role of the market in the development of the pandemic. The project indicates that in December 2019, cases of coronavirus infection were detected that were not related to the Huanan market. However, at the same time, the city could well have mild and undiagnosed cases of the disease that would indicate such a connection. "In this regard, it is impossible to draw an unambiguous conclusion about the role of the Huanan market," experts say.

Earlier, WHO described the path of the coronavirus from bats to humans. According to experts, the most likely version of the transmission of infection to humans through other species of animals, and not a leak from the laboratory.

A WHO expert group studied the origin of the coronavirus in China for almost a month. Its report is expected to be published in full on 30 March.

An outbreak of pneumonia COVID-19 caused by a new type of virus was first recorded at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China. On March 11, 2020, WHO announced that the situation could be characterized as a pandemic. To date, over 127.3 million people have been infected with the coronavirus in the world, of which more than 2.7 million have died.

Chinese authorities and scientists have repeatedly questioned the version of the origin of the virus in Wuhan. In particular, experts pointed to evidence of the emergence of coronavirus in Italy a few months before the first case in China.

Prepared by: Nikita Smirnov nikita_smirnov@tempting.pro