Jennifer Rigby

LONDON, (Reuters) – The World Health Organization has released its first report by a panel of experts to examine the causes of the COVID-19 epidemic and to create a framework for future investigations.

This panel is made up of 26 international experts and was established in October. It’s called the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens.

This work is based on a WHO-China COVID-19 and U.S intelligence inquiries, which both point to natural sources of the pandemic (likely bats) rather than lab leaks.

BATS

According to the new report, a zoonotic origin may be the best explanation for the development of the coronavirus. First human cases were first reported December 2019, in Wuhan in central China.

It states that the source of the virus, intermediate hosts, and moment it crossed to humans have not been determined.

LACK OF EVIDENCE

The report points out that a large amount of data has been missing from China.

Chinese scientists provided additional information including blood samples taken from over 40,000 Chinese donors from Wuhan between September and December 2019, when the pandemic began.

The Chinese scientists stated that more than 200 of the samples were positive for SarscoV-2 antibodies. This virus causes COVID-19. But confirmatory testing proved to be negative.

WHO asked for more details on the matter and about other elements.

LEAK LAB

A panel of experts also stated that there is no information available on how the coronavirus might have been transmitted to humans through a laboratory incident. This means more research and data are important.

Future Work

This required a series of investigations to be conducted in China and worldwide to provide more insight into the causes of the pandemic.

This includes additional research on first-ever human cases in China and attempts to track whether or not the virus existed elsewhere before first reported cases.

Additional work in potential animal hosts (especially bats) as well on farm workers, and products from animals that were on the Wuhan marketplace – which was early identified as a possible spillover site, were all important, according to the WHO.

FRAMEWORK

According to the WHO, the primary goals of the SAGO panel include the creation of a framework that will allow for more effective investigation into future outbreaks.

This report contains a detailed list of urgent work to accomplish this. It would be ideal that the WHO and the WHO team collaborate with countries where the outbreak is occurring.

SAGO explained that early investigations are needed to determine the modes and extent of human-to–human transmission. There is also research necessary on early cases as well as their travel history, exposure to animals, and other relevant information.

The site should be visited and information should be recorded in a systematic way ()one of the most earliest cases detected”, and early specimen collection from humans and animals.

The group will meet again to continue discussing progress and to also work together on the identification of Sars-CoV-2 variants.

A panel of experts also suggested that biosafety be improved and more security measures taken.