The head of China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Saturday urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to return to a "scientific, fair" position in tracing the origin of COVID-19.&nbsp;Speaking at a news conference, Shen Hongbing, the China CDC head warned the global health body against politicising the source of the COVID-19 virus or becoming a tool of another country. This comes as a&nbsp;team of Chinese researchers published a long-awaited analysis of samples collected more than three years ago from the Huanan seafood and wildlife market, which is often linked to the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 virus and the resulting pandemic. BBC reports that this is the first peer-reviewed study of the biological evidence gathered from the Huanan market in 2020.

As per the report, the research has revealed that swabs from the market which tested positive for coronavirus also contained genetic material from wild animals. Some scientists claim that this is further evidence that the deadly disease jumped species, from animals and into humans.

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However, others have urged caution. They say that the interpretation of the findings should be done with caution and question why it took three years for this information to be made public.

By linking the virus to the market's animals, this research could potentially open new lines of inquiry into Covid origins, reports BBC.

Reportedly, the Chinese team had posted online an early version of the study back in February 2022. But they waited till recently to publish full genetic information that was contained in the samples gathered from the market.

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The published findings come as the lab leak theory which pins the origins of the coronavirus on a leak from a Wuhan-based lab gain traction among authorities in the US. On March 1, FBI director Christopher Wray even accused China of "doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate", and revealed that his bureau had been convinced of the lab leak theory "for quite some time now". However, the FBI has not made any of its findings public. Beijing continues to deny suggestions that the COVID-19 virus originated in a scientific facility.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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The head of China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Saturday urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to return to a "scientific, fair" position in tracing the origin of COVID-19.

The head of China's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Saturday urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to return to a "scientific, fair" position in tracing the origin of COVID-19. Speaking at a news conference, Shen Hongbing, the China CDC head warned the global health body against politicising the source of the COVID-19 virus or becoming a tool of another country. This comes as a team of Chinese researchers published a long-awaited analysis of samples collected more than three years ago from the Huanan seafood and wildlife market, which is often linked to the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 virus and the resulting pandemic. BBC reports that this is the first peer-reviewed study of the biological evidence gathered from the Huanan market in 2020. As per the report, the research has revealed that swabs from the market which tested positive for coronavirus also contained genetic material from wild animals. Some scientists claim that this is further evidence that the deadly disease jumped species, from animals and into humans. Also read | India records over 6,000 new Covid cases, Centre to hold high-level meet However, others have urged caution. They say that the interpretation of the findings should be done with caution and question why it took three years for this information to be made public. By linking the virus to the market's animals, this research could potentially open new lines of inquiry into Covid origins, reports BBC. Reportedly, the Chinese team had posted online an early version of the study back in February 2022. But they waited till recently to publish full genetic information that was contained in the samples gathered from the market. Also read | India: Covid variant XBB1.16 leads to spike in cases. Know its symptoms and precautions The published findings come as the lab leak theory which pins the origins of the coronavirus on a leak from a Wuhan-based lab gain traction among authorities in the US. On March 1, FBI director Christopher Wray even accused China of "doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate", and revealed that his bureau had been convinced of the lab leak theory "for quite some time now". However, the FBI has not made any of its findings public. Beijing continues to deny suggestions that the COVID-19 virus originated in a scientific facility. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China CDC warns WHO to maintain ‘scientific, fair’ investigation into Covid origins

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has accused China of withholding information on Covid origins. The global health agency criticised China for not sharing scientific data samples taken from a&nbsp;market in Wuhan in 2020, saying that it could have provided significant information and helped tackle the pandemic, which claimed millions of lives worldwide, reports The New York Times (NYT) newspaper.

It is widely believed that an animal market at Huanan in central China's Wuhan city was the epicentre of the pandemic. It is claimed that from there, the SARS-CoV-2 virus rapidly spread to other locations in Wuhan in late 2019 and then to the rest of the world.

On Friday, the WHO asked the Chinese why the data from three years ago was not shared and why the data could not be found now&nbsp;after it was published online in January.

"Every piece of data relating to studying the origins of COVID-19 needs to be shared with the international community immediately. These data could have — and should have — been shared three years ago," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Friday.

<h2>US House votes unanimously to declassify Covid origins intel, bill sent to Biden</h2>

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"We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results. Understanding how the pandemic began remains both a moral and scientific imperative," he said.

According to an NYT report, before the data got disappeared, an international team of virus experts analysed it and revealed that the samples support the idea that the pandemic could have begun from the illegally traded raccoon dogs.

The WHO chief said that while the data was online, scientists from a number of countries downloaded the data and analysed it.

"As soon as we became aware of this data, we contacted the Chinese CDC and urged them to share it with WHO and the international scientific community so it can be analysed," he said, adding that WHO also convened the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, which met on Tuesday.

The report further mentioned that the genetic data drawn from swabs were taken from in and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market starting in January 2020 "shortly after the Chinese authorities had shut down the market because of suspicions that it was linked to the outbreak of a new virus."

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has accused China of withholding information on Covid origins. The global health agency criticised China for not sharing scientific data samples taken from a market in Wuhan in 2020, saying that it could have provided significant information and helped tackle the pandemic, which claimed millions of lives worldwide, reports The New York Times (NYT) newspaper.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has accused China of withholding information on Covid origins. The global health agency criticised China for not sharing scientific data samples taken from a market in Wuhan in 2020, saying that it could have provided significant information and helped tackle the pandemic, which claimed millions of lives worldwide, reports The New York Times (NYT) newspaper. It is widely believed that an animal market at Huanan in central China's Wuhan city was the epicentre of the pandemic. It is claimed that from there, the SARS-CoV-2 virus rapidly spread to other locations in Wuhan in late 2019 and then to the rest of the world. On Friday, the WHO asked the Chinese why the data from three years ago was not shared and why the data could not be found now after it was published online in January. "Every piece of data relating to studying the origins of COVID-19 needs to be shared with the international community immediately. These data could have — and should have — been shared three years ago," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Friday. US House votes unanimously to declassify Covid origins intel, bill sent to Biden "We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results. Understanding how the pandemic began remains both a moral and scientific imperative," he said. According to an NYT report, before the data got disappeared, an international team of virus experts analysed it and revealed that the samples support the idea that the pandemic could have begun from the illegally traded raccoon dogs. The WHO chief said that while the data was online, scientists from a number of countries downloaded the data and analysed it. "As soon as we became aware of this data, we contacted the Chinese CDC and urged them to share it with WHO and the international scientific community so it can be analysed," he said, adding that WHO also convened the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, which met on Tuesday. The report further mentioned that the genetic data drawn from swabs were taken from in and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market starting in January 2020 "shortly after the Chinese authorities had shut down the market because of suspicions that it was linked to the outbreak of a new virus." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WHO accuses China of holding back information on Covid origins, seeks details

Following the formation of the new advisory group on dangerous pathogens, the WHO now says 'this may be our last chance to know the origins of Covid 19 pandemic'.

W.H.O: Our best and last chance to probe covid origin