China has provided the most extensive COVID-19 data and research findings to the global community, as stated by its foreign ministry on Tuesday, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) renewed request for additional information and access.
The foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, emphasized that China is the sole nation that has organized expert discussions to share progress on traceability with the WHO on multiple occasions during a regular press briefing.
In a statement released on Monday, the WHO reiterated its appeal to China for data sharing and access to aid in its investigation into the origins of COVID-19, which was first identified in central China five years ago.
The WHO reports that there have been over 760 million COVID-19 cases and approximately 6.9 million deaths globally. In mid-2023, the organization declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, while also noting that the disease serves as a constant reminder of the potential emergence of new viruses with severe consequences.
In early 2023, Chinese scientists uploaded data from the initial stages of the pandemic to an international database, shortly after China lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and reopened its borders.
The data indicated the presence of DNA from various animal species, including raccoon dogs, in environmental samples that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. This finding led a group of international researchers to conclude that these animals were likely the primary vectors of the disease.
In 2021, a team led by the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an extensive investigation in and around Wuhan, the location of the first reported cases. They suggested that the virus likely transferred from bats to humans via an intermediary animal, although they acknowledged that further research was necessary.
China has asserted that no additional visits are required and that investigations into early cases should focus on other nations.
Regarding the traceability of COVID-19, Mao stated that China has provided the most data and research findings, significantly contributing to global efforts in this area.
Mao also noted that WHO’s international experts have consistently affirmed that during their visit to China, they were able to access all desired locations and engage with all relevant individuals.
