The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a scientific report suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which caused the global pandemic, likely originated from a zoonotic spillover event, directly from bats or through an intermediate host. The report was prepared by the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), an independent panel of 27 international experts tasked with examining the virus’s origins. Despite the conclusion that zoonotic transmission is the most plausible explanation, the report admits that the lab leak hypothesis remains a possibility without further evidence. The WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed that while zoonotic spillover is supported by current evidence, the lab leak possibility must be left open.
The report acknowledges a significant lack of information from China, which has not provided essential data such as genetic sequences from early pandemic cases and details on the Wuhan market animals, necessary for a comprehensive evaluation of all hypotheses. This absence of transparency has led to continued speculation and calls for greater accountability. The WHO has been conducting its investigation for over three years to understand the virus’s origin, highlighting the importance of scientific research in preventing future global health crises. Meanwhile, the report has sparked renewed discussions about the role of geopolitical tensions in shaping the investigation and the need for international collaboration in addressing such global health threats.