WHO will create a new group to study the origin of coronavirus

The World HEALTH Organization (WHO) is establishing a new advisory group to study new viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the organization said in a statement.

“The International Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of New Pathogens (SAGO) is a new advisory group to WHO that will be responsible for advising WHO on the development of a global framework to systematically explore the circumstances of the emergence of new pathogens with pandemic potential. With regard to SARS-CoV-2, it will facilitate the rapid conduct of research recommended in the report in March 2021,” the WHO said.

The organization has announced an open competition for participation in SAGO and hopes that all its member countries will respond. “WHO looks forward to continuing previous missions to CHINA to study [the origin of] SARS-CoV-2, as well as other missions studying the origin of, for example, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, avian influenza, Lassa fever and Ebola.

The WHO recalled that the report on the first phase of research on the origin of the CORONAVIRUS said that scientific data is not yet enough to refute any hypothesis. “In particular, in order to consider the “laboratory hypothesis”, it is important to have access to all data, take into account the best scientific practice and study the mechanisms that already exist in WHO,” they emphasized.