Bengaluru: The World Health Organization said on Friday that efforts to determine the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, are still ongoing and incomplete.
The WHO Scientific Advisory Group reported progress in understanding COVID-19’s origins but noted that critical information required to fully assess all hypotheses remains unavailable.
The agency said it had requested China share hundreds of genetic sequences from COVID-19 patients early in the pandemic, detailed information on animals sold at Wuhan markets, and details on research and biosafety conditions at Wuhan laboratories.
WHO added that China has not yet shared the information.
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru. Editing by Mark Potter)
