Latest news with #zoonoticspillover
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New WHO report fails to rule out COVID-19 lab leak origin as China continues to impede investigation
A World Health Organization (WHO) scientific advisory group on Friday released a report on the origins of COVID-19, concluding that available evidence suggests the deadly pandemic was caused by "zoonotic spillover," either directly from bats or through an intermediate host. The report from the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), which claims to be a panel of 27 independent, international, multidisciplinary experts, said that much of the information needed to fully evaluate all hypotheses has not been provided. However, still citing a believed cause, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that "all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak." Fbi Examining Covid-19 Origin 'Cover-up' Amid New Strain Emergence: Bongino As the Wall Street Journal previously reported, the WHO's Covid-19 origin findings come amid a pattern of suspicious activity. The WHO traveled to China in early 2021 with British zoologist Dr. Peter Daszak, who was disbarred last year from doing work for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is accused of using American taxpayer dollars to fund gain-of-function research at the bat lab in Wuhan, China. Read On The Fox News App Once at the Wuhan lab, Daszak and others were allegedly blocked from doing any of the research necessary to investigate. Dr. Marc Siegel: Trump Is Right To Block 'Dangerous' Gain-of-function Research As noted by the White House when highlighting a report from the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, "The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2" publication — which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak theory — was prompted by Dr. [Anthony] Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated in nature. The WHO said it had requested that China share hundreds of genetic sequences from individuals with COVID-19 early in the pandemic, more detailed information about the animals sold at markets in Wuhan, and information on work done and biosafety conditions at laboratories in Wuhan. To date, China has not shared this information either with SAGO or the WHO. Trump Bans Federal Funding For 'Dangerous' Gain-of-function Research "I thank each of the 27 members of SAGO for dedicating their time and expertise to this very important scientific undertaking over more than three years," Ghebreyesus wrote in a statement. "… We continue to appeal to China and any other country that has information about the origins of COVID-19 to share that information openly, in the interests of protecting the world from future pandemics." SAGO published its initial findings and recommendations in a report on June 9, 2022. The most recent report updates the evaluation based on peer-reviewed papers and reviews, as well as available unpublished information and field studies, interviews and other reports, including audit findings, government reports and intelligence reports. Those part of SAGO convened in various formats 52 times, conducted briefings with researchers, academics, journalists and others, according to the WHO. Read The Full Report Here: "As the report says, this is not solely a scientific endeavor, it is a moral and ethical imperative," Marietjie Venter, chair of the group, wrote in a statement. "Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and how it sparked a pandemic is needed to help prevent future pandemics, save lives and livelihoods, and reduce global suffering." "The work to understand the origins of SARS-CoV-2 remains unfinished," the WHO wrote in a statement. "WHO welcomes any further evidence on the origins of COVID-19, and SAGO remains committed to reviewing any new information should it become available."Original article source: New WHO report fails to rule out COVID-19 lab leak origin as China continues to impede investigation
Fox News
18 hours ago
- Health
- Fox News
New WHO report fails to rule out COVID-19 lab leak origin as China continues to impede investigation
A World Health Organization (WHO) scientific advisory group on Friday released a report on the origins of COVID-19, concluding that available evidence suggests the deadly pandemic was caused by "zoonotic spillover," either directly from bats or through an intermediate host. The report from the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), which claims to be a panel of 27 independent, international, multidisciplinary experts, said that much of the information needed to fully evaluate all hypotheses has not been provided. However, still citing a believed cause, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that "all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak." As the Wall Street Journal previously reported, the WHO's COVID-19 origin findings come amid a pattern of suspicious activity. The WHO traveled to China in early 2021 with British zoologist Dr. Peter Daszak, who was disbarred last year from doing work for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is accused of using American taxpayer dollars to fund gain-of-function research at the bat lab in Wuhan, China. Once at the Wuhan lab, Daszak and others were allegedly blocked from doing any of the research necessary to investigate. As noted by the White House when highlighting a report from the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, "The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2" publication — which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak theory — was prompted by Dr. [Anthony] Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated in nature. The WHO said it had requested that China share hundreds of genetic sequences from individuals with COVID-19 early in the pandemic, more detailed information about the animals sold at markets in Wuhan, and information on work done and biosafety conditions at laboratories in Wuhan. To date, China has not shared this information either with SAGO or the WHO. "I thank each of the 27 members of SAGO for dedicating their time and expertise to this very important scientific undertaking over more than three years," Ghebreyesus wrote in a statement. "… We continue to appeal to China and any other country that has information about the origins of COVID-19 to share that information openly, in the interests of protecting the world from future pandemics." SAGO published its initial findings and recommendations in a report on June 9, 2022. The most recent report updates the evaluation based on peer-reviewed papers and reviews, as well as available unpublished information and field studies, interviews and other reports, including audit findings, government reports and intelligence reports. Those part of SAGO convened in various formats 52 times, conducted briefings with researchers, academics, journalists and others, according to the WHO. "As the report says, this is not solely a scientific endeavor, it is a moral and ethical imperative," Marietjie Venter, chair of the group, wrote in a statement. "Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and how it sparked a pandemic is needed to help prevent future pandemics, save lives and livelihoods, and reduce global suffering." "The work to understand the origins of SARS-CoV-2 remains unfinished," the WHO wrote in a statement. "WHO welcomes any further evidence on the origins of COVID-19, and SAGO remains committed to reviewing any new information should it become available."
New York Times
16-06-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Bat Cave Footage Offers Clues to How Viruses Leap Between Species
Bats carry an assortment of viruses, including infectious diseases that have jumped into humans in a process known as zoonotic spillover. In some cases, the aerial mammals have infected people directly. But in other cases, scientists believe, bats have passed deadly viruses onto other animal species, which subsequently infected humans. A remarkable new video from Uganda provides direct visual evidence of many different wild animals interacting with wild bats, revealing just how many opportunities there are for potentially deadly bat viruses to jump into new species. It was published along with a paper posted online on Monday but not yet peer reviewed. On Feb. 17, Bosco Atukwatse, a young Ugandan wildlife biologist working with the Kyambura Lion Project, set up solar-powered camera traps near the mouth of Python Cave in the Maramagambo Forest, in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. He was collecting data about leopards and spotted hyenas in the forest. Through a mixture of what he called 'curiosity and luck,' he filmed far more than leopards. Hundreds of nights of footage revealed a steady procession of 13 additional predator species, among them large-spotted genets, African civets, African fish eagles, African rock pythons, L'Hoest's monkeys and baboons. Python Cave is home to as many as 50,000 Egyptian fruit bats, and the predators emerged from the cave with a winged snack, which they either hunted or scavenged, in their mouths. 'It was amazing how many animals come to eat bats at that specific spot,' Mr. Atukwatse said. He added, 'It's basically a free meal for everybody in the area.' That is significant in part because the fruit bats, including in the area's caves, are known to be a natural reservoir for infectious diseases, including the deadly Marburg virus. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
