WHO Insists That Coronavirus Originated From An Animal, Not Lab

Quelling speculations about how the novel coronavirus was produced at a bio lab in Wuhan, the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirms that substantial evidence has been amassed to testify that the virus might be of animal origin.

At a press briefing in Geneva, WHO—which has recently received major flak due to its special rapport with China— had its spokesperson hinting at how the coronavirus, which gives rise to COVID-19, “most probably has its ecological reservoir in bats.” And, it wasn’t really a lab mishap.

“It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin,” said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib, while enthusing how despite there being several unanswered questions about the birth of the virus, an intermediate animal host could be the answer.

The remarks from Chaib came soon after U.S. President Trump announced that further probe into the origin of the virus was underway, as his administration was making conscious efforts to determine whether the novel coronavirus originated in a lab in the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak was first recorded. “We’re looking at it,” said Trump on Friday during a COVID-19 briefing at the White House. "A lot of people are looking at it – it seems to make sense,” he added.

Despite there being a volley of conspiracy theories stating how the virus was a product of a Chinese bio ware program—and how the virus, which was created and stored in the lab, accidentally escaped due to lax lab security. Top U.S. medico Anthony Fauci, however, refuted the notions, upon being questioned about the same.

“A group of highly qualified evolutionary virologists looked at the sequences in bats as they evolve. The mutations that it took to get to the point where it is now are totally consistent with a jump of a species from an animal to a human,” said Fauci on Friday in the White House press briefing.

While there still continues to be a great deal of ambiguity on that front, Trump and his aides are now focussed on ways to mitigate the effects of the spread and put an end to the global pandemic.

An official, on the basis of anonymity, maintained that there’s ample time to investigate the truth behind the theories but governing bodies need to develop a delicate approach while they’re at it, as reckless handling could put diplomacy with trade relationships at stake.