WHO's coronavirus sleuths are heading to China but it may be too late to solve the pandemic's mysteries
4 years, 5 months ago

WHO's coronavirus sleuths are heading to China but it may be too late to solve the pandemic's mysteries

ABC  

This week the World Health Organization is sending in a team to China to investigate the origins of coronavirus, posing an unusual challenge to Beijing's efforts to suggest COVID-19 came from abroad. "Chinese experts believe the team should hold discussions with the Chinese side on how to conduct the work globally and fairly, noting that the visit does not mean the virus originated in China," the state-owned Global Times reported when the WHO mission was first announced. Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak Download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest on how the pandemic is impacting the world But Chinese Foreign Ministry officials have previously tweeted conspiracy theories alleging the virus was brought to China by the US military. And state media is quick to publicise any findings or theories that suggest the existence of cases prior to Wuhan's outbreak in December last year, including a recent study from Spain.

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History of this topic

Wuhan Market: More Likely Origin of COVID-19 Virus Than Previously Thought
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Wuhan Market: More Likely Origin of COVID-19 Virus Than Previously Thought

The Hindu  

A new study suggests that the Wuhan market in China was the origin of the COVID-19 virus. The data, which was shared publicly by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, included genetic material from more than 800 samples collected at the Huanan market shortly after its closure in early 2020. The researchers found that the virus and the …

"I don't think it's defensible": Under Trump, a Pentagon campaign spread anti-vaccine misinformation
6 months, 1 week ago

"I don't think it's defensible": Under Trump, a Pentagon campaign spread anti-vaccine misinformation

Salon  

In the thick of the pandemic, the Trump-era U.S. military launched what Reuters describes as a “clandestine operation” to spread anti-vaccine sentiments, particularly in the Philippines, as part of an apparent effort to harm Chinese interests, an initiative that ended only after President Joe Biden took office. As part of its campaign to sow doubt about public health measures, the …

Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous
8 months ago

Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous

Associated Press  

BEIJING — The hunt for the origins of COVID-19 has gone dark in China, the victim of political infighting after a series of stalled and thwarted attempts to find the source of the virus that killed millions and paralyzed the world for months. In a faxed statement, China’s Foreign Ministry defended China’s handling of research into the origins, saying the …

USDA and China CCP lab are creating deadly BIRD FLU viruses as part of $1m collaboration - and YOU are paying for it
8 months, 1 week ago

USDA and China CCP lab are creating deadly BIRD FLU viruses as part of $1m collaboration - and YOU are paying for it

Daily Mail  

Lawmakers are demanding answers after it was revealed the US is sending taxpayer dollars to a Chinese army lab to make bird flu viruses more dangerous to people. The White Coat Waste Project obtained the above photo and claims it shows animal experimenters inside the USDA lab that is working with Chinese scientists on bird flu research Tests revealed that …

COVID-19: Why we're looking for the pandemic's origin
9 months, 1 week ago

COVID-19: Why we're looking for the pandemic's origin

Hindustan Times  

Discovering COVID's origin will shape the next pandemic. Some experts say it's possible that the Wuhan lab had progenitor strains — ancestors — of SARS-CoV-2, but China's alleged withholding information on the origin of COVID makes this impossible to prove or disprove. "Every form of the lab leak theory involves some sort of cover up, which to me means that …

Revealed: US and China sought to create virus in 2018 similar to Covid
11 months ago

Revealed: US and China sought to create virus in 2018 similar to Covid

Daily Mail  

Bombshell new documents shed light on a shady 2018 project between US and Chinese scientists to create a novel virus with the same rare features seen in Covid. In initial proposals for DEFUSE, the lab work was to be done in a biosafety-level 2 lab, which researchers said would appeal to federal grant-makers as 'highly cost effective' despite the fewer …

China’s Management of Covid-19 Crisis: A Case Study in Disinformation and Censorship - News18
11 months, 2 weeks ago

China’s Management of Covid-19 Crisis: A Case Study in Disinformation and Censorship - News18

News 18  

Censorship, surveillance, and authoritarianism have become synonyms with China in recent years. The court observed that had the government officials heeded to the warnings from the detained healthcare workers and adopted precautionary measures than taking punitive measures by labelling them as rumourmonger, “it would’ve meant we could better control the coronavirus today.” Dr Li contracted covid19 on January 8, 2020, …

Scientists see risk of lost opportunity for long COVID research in China
1 year ago

Scientists see risk of lost opportunity for long COVID research in China

The Hindu  

With more than a full year past since China eased restrictions and let COVID-19 sweep its households, scientists are worried a unique opportunity may be slipping away to study long COVID from possibly hundreds of millions of infections in that country. China's rare circumstances - relying on home-grown vaccines and mostly avoiding COVID until late in the pandemic - could, …

Congress demands CDC hands over everything it knows about China's mystery pneumonia outbreak
1 year ago

Congress demands CDC hands over everything it knows about China's mystery pneumonia outbreak

Daily Mail  

Outbreaks of the new illness across China were first made public November 21 The committee is demanding answers from CDC to its questions by December 13 A Congressional committee tonight sent a scathing letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demanding it be more transparent regarding the mysterious outbreak of pneumonia in China, stressing the agency could not …

China's respiratory illness surge not as high as pre-pandemic, says WHO official
1 year ago

China's respiratory illness surge not as high as pre-pandemic, says WHO official

Firstpost  

According to Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO’s department of epidemic and pandemic preparation and prevention, the increase seems to be caused by an increase in the number of children catching diseases that they have avoided for the past two years due to COVID limitations A World Health Organisation official has said that although there has been an …

‘Not by novel virus’: What China said on ‘mysterious pneumonia’
1 year ago

‘Not by novel virus’: What China said on ‘mysterious pneumonia’

Hindustan Times  

A pneumonia outbreak in China has alerted the world including the World Health Organization which sought more information about the situation from the country. Medical staff in protective suits treat a patient with pneumonia On Sunday, China's health ministry asked local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics amid the latest crisis. "Efforts should be made to increase the …

Review hospital preparedness: Centre to states amid mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China
1 year ago

Review hospital preparedness: Centre to states amid mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China

Hindustan Times  

The Centre has written to all states and Union Territories asking them to review the hospital preparedness as the health ministry is closely monitoring the rise of respiratory illness cases in China among children. China is witnessing a sudden spike in cases of respiratory illness among children. All cases of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness among children and …

China's health ministry seeks more fever clinics amid pneumonia outbreak
1 year ago

China's health ministry seeks more fever clinics amid pneumonia outbreak

Hindustan Times  

China's health ministry on Sunday urged local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics as the country grapples with a surge in respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since easing COVID-19 restrictions. Medical staff in protective suits treat a patient with pneumonia The spike became a global issue last week when the World Health Organization asked China for …

Chinese hospitals ‘overwhelmed with sick children’ after surge in respiratory illness
1 year, 1 month ago

Chinese hospitals ‘overwhelmed with sick children’ after surge in respiratory illness

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy China insists it has not …

Govt closely monitoring respiratory illness outbreak in China, risk to India low
1 year, 1 month ago

Govt closely monitoring respiratory illness outbreak in China, risk to India low

Hindustan Times  

The Union health ministry is closely monitoring the new outbreak reported in China resulting in respiratory illness among children. China has reported a spike in respiratory illness among children resulting in a massive surge in hospitalisation. The ministry took note of the media reports of a cluster outbreak of mysterious respiratory illness in children in northern China for which WHO …

No ‘unusual’ virus behind rising Pneumonia cases China has clarified, reveals WHO
1 year, 1 month ago

No ‘unusual’ virus behind rising Pneumonia cases China has clarified, reveals WHO

Firstpost  

Since mid-October 2023, the World Health Organization has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China China has reiterated that no unusual or new pathogens have been detected in the upsurge in child respiratory illnesses in the north, the WHO said on Thursday after putting pressure on Beijing for detailed …

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please
1 year, 1 month ago

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please

Live Mint  

China, where covid broke out in November 2019, is in the spotlight again. The World Health Organization has asked the country for details on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. In a recent statement, the WHO noted an increase in influenza-like ailments compared to the same autumn of the past three years in China’s …

Spike in illnesses isn’t a new pathogen, China reassures WHO
1 year, 1 month ago

Spike in illnesses isn’t a new pathogen, China reassures WHO

Salon  

An outbreak of respiratory illnesses in China has sparked alarm, but the sudden rise in sickness is not related to a new virus, according to Chinese health authorities. So far, the data suggests that there’s nothing out of the ordinary, but both the WHO and China have been criticized in the past for not being entirely transparent about the COVID-19 …

On China pneumonia outbreak, scientists caution to not press ‘pandemic panic button’
1 year, 1 month ago

On China pneumonia outbreak, scientists caution to not press ‘pandemic panic button’

Hindustan Times  

Leading scientists urged caution over fears of another pandemic on Thursday after the World Health Organization requested more information from China on a rise of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia clusters among children. The standard wording of the alert echoed the first-ever notice about what would become COVID-19, sent on Dec. 30 2019: "Undiagnosed pneumonia - China." "I am not going …

WHO asks China to provide more details on spike in pneumonia cases among children
1 year, 1 month ago

WHO asks China to provide more details on spike in pneumonia cases among children

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. There are reports of hospitals in northern China facing …

China Sees Surge in ‘Unexplained’ Pneumonia Cases Among Children; WHO Seeks More Details
1 year, 1 month ago

China Sees Surge in ‘Unexplained’ Pneumonia Cases Among Children; WHO Seeks More Details

News 18  

Masks and social distancing have made a comeback in China due to a mysterious pneumonia outbreak. As the country experiences a strain on hospitals because of a sharp increase in cases of unexplained illness, especially among children, the World Health Organization issued a guidance on Wednesday. Earlier this week, ProMED, noted a growing number of media reports of clusters of …

WHO asks China for more information about rise in illnesses and pneumonia clusters
1 year, 1 month ago

WHO asks China for more information about rise in illnesses and pneumonia clusters

Associated Press  

GENEVA — Chinese officials say they did not detect any “unusual or novel diseases” in the country, the World Health Organization said Thursday, following an official request by the U.N. health agency for information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. WHO noted that authorities at China’s National Health Commission on Nov. 13 …

WHO asks China for more data on respiratory illnesses outbreak
1 year, 1 month ago

WHO asks China for more data on respiratory illnesses outbreak

The Hindu  

The World Health Organization has asked China for more data on respiratory illnesses spreading in the north of the country, but Beijing offered no public comment on Thursday. "WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children," the UN health body said in a statement …

Mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China, WHO seeks details: 10 points
1 year, 1 month ago

Mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China, WHO seeks details: 10 points

Hindustan Times  

China has reported an outbreak of influenza-like illness mostly among children prompting the World Health Organization to seek more details from the country about the mysterious outbreak. Purported videos of China hospitals overflowing with patients suffering from mysterious pneumonia surfaced on X. ProMed, which is a publicly available surveillance system conducting global reporting of infectious disease outbreaks, issued an alert …

China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says
1 year, 1 month ago

China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says

CNN  

CNN — Chinese health authorities told the World Health Organization on Thursday that a spike in cases of children with pneumonia or respiratory illness in the northern part of the country stems from typical seasonal germs rather than any novel or unknown pathogen, the organization said. At Thursday’s teleconference, WHO said, the Chinese officials reported enhanced surveillance of respiratory illnesses …

WHO asks China for more information on rise in cases of respiratory illness and pneumonia
1 year, 1 month ago

WHO asks China for more information on rise in cases of respiratory illness and pneumonia

LA Times  

Residents line up for mass COVID-19 testing in Beijing in May 2022. The United Nations health agency cited unspecified media reports and a global infectious disease monitoring service as reporting clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. The WHO noted that authorities at China’s National Health Commission on Nov. 13 reported an increase in respiratory diseases, which they …

What is the mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China?
1 year, 1 month ago

What is the mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China?

Al Jazeera  

The WHO has asked China for more information on the undiagnosed respiratory illness that has spiked since October 2023. As China experiences its first winter without strict COVID-19 restrictions since the outbreak of the pandemic three years ago, a wave of respiratory illnesses is sweeping across the country. On Wednesday, the WHO asked China to release information on the recent …

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?
1 year, 1 month ago

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?

Firstpost  

China’s leading respiratory illness expert Zhong Nanshan has warned of a minor COVID-19 surge in the winter and urged the elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated as soon as possible Concerned about an increase of COVID-19 infections in the current winter season, Chinese experts have issued an alert and advised vaccination for vulnerable and old groups. The Chinese Centre …

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter
1 year, 1 month ago

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter

India TV News  

COVID-19 alert: Ahead of the winter season, an alert has been sounded across China about the relapse of COVID-19 infections and experts have asked elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a total of 209 new severe COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths caused by COVID-19 were reported across the country …

China's 'batwoman' warns there could be more Covid-like 'future outbreaks'
1 year, 3 months ago

China's 'batwoman' warns there could be more Covid-like 'future outbreaks'

India Today  

Known as one of China's best virologists, Shi Zhengli has warned that there is a high possibility of another coronavirus to appear in the future. "If a coronavirus caused diseases to emerge before, there is a high chance it will cause future outbreaks," she said in a study paper written with her colleagues. Shi's team from the Wuhan Institute of …

China lab suspected of Covid leak stripped of US funding for violating biosafety rules
1 year, 3 months ago

China lab suspected of Covid leak stripped of US funding for violating biosafety rules

The Telegraph  

In the months before the pandemic, the institute had registered patents for repairs to ventilation symptoms and broken seals and is believed to have worked on viruses at inappropriate biosafety levels. “WIV has not acknowledged the violations, has not cooperated with the government to address the violations, has not accepted responsibility for the violations, and therefore presumably has taken no …

China engineered Covid-19 'bioweapon' to purposely infect people, reveals Wuhan researcher
1 year, 5 months ago

China engineered Covid-19 'bioweapon' to purposely infect people, reveals Wuhan researcher

Firstpost  

A researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology has made astounding claims regarding the coronavirus, claiming that China created the virus as a “bioweapon” and that his colleagues were given four variants of the virus to see which might spread most effectively. According to an ANI report, Chao Shao, a researcher from Wuhan, made these shocking revelations in an exclusive …

No evidence COVID-19 created in Chinese lab: U.S. intelligence
1 year, 6 months ago

No evidence COVID-19 created in Chinese lab: U.S. intelligence

The Hindu  

The head of U.S. intelligence said on Friday that there was no evidence that the COVID-19 virus was created in the Chinese government's Wuhan research lab. Drawing on intelligence collected by various member agencies of the U.S. intelligence community, the ODNI report said some scientists at the Wuhan lab had done genetic engineering of coronaviruses similar to COVID-19. The report …

No evidence Covid created in Chinese lab: US intelligence
1 year, 6 months ago

No evidence Covid created in Chinese lab: US intelligence

Deccan Chronicle  

WASHINGTON: The head of US intelligence said Friday that there was no evidence that the Covid-19 virus was created in the Chinese government's Wuhan research lab. Drawing on intelligence collected by various member agencies of the US intelligence community, the ODNI report said some scientists at the Wuhan lab had done genetic engineering of coronaviruses similar to Covid-19. ODNI said …

Large-scale COVID reemergence 'unlikely' despite uptick in cases
1 year, 7 months ago

Large-scale COVID reemergence 'unlikely' despite uptick in cases

China Daily  

China Daily| Updated :2023-05-19 The risk of a new large-scale COVID-19 outbreak in China in the short term is minimal, despite a recent uptick in new infections, according to health experts. Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a group interview that the recent increase in new cases is unlikely to overwhelm …

We need China’s cooperation to understand covid: former WHO chief scientist
1 year, 7 months ago

We need China’s cooperation to understand covid: former WHO chief scientist

Live Mint  

Cooperation from China, including access to sites, data, blood samples, and animal farms in the country, is required to determine the origin of the covid-19 virus, according to former World Health Organization chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan. Swaminathan emphasized the need to address long covid symptoms, particularly among those with high-risk conditions such as hypertension. During every covid wave, when people …

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over
1 year, 7 months ago

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over

Firstpost  

A top Chinese health official said that despite the World Health Organisation ending the worldwide emergency designation for COVID-19, the virus is still dangerous and China will continue to monitor it while boosting vaccination rates among high-risk groups. According to Liang Wannian, head of China’s COVID-19 response expert group under the National Health Commission, the warning status being lifted by …

Humans brought Covid to Wuhan market? Chinese scientist's shocking claim
1 year, 8 months ago

Humans brought Covid to Wuhan market? Chinese scientist's shocking claim

Hindustan Times  

A Chinese scientist claimed that the Covid-19 virus may have originated in humans negating the theory that the virus jumped from animals to humans at the Wuhan market. Tong Yigang of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology said that the genetic sequences of viral samples taken from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan were “almost identical” to those of patients …

China health officials lash out at WHO, defend virus search
1 year, 8 months ago

China health officials lash out at WHO, defend virus search

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

New study suggests possibility humans introduced COVID-19 to animals
1 year, 8 months ago

New study suggests possibility humans introduced COVID-19 to animals

China Daily  

Humans infected by the COVID-19 virus may have introduced the novel coronavirus to susceptible animals at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, Hubei province, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported, Chinese researchers said on Saturday. Tong Yigang, dean of the College of Life Science and Technology at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, said in a press briefing that no …

China health officials lash out at WHO, defend virus search
1 year, 8 months ago

China health officials lash out at WHO, defend virus search

LA Times  

Shen Hongbing, the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks at a press conference on the origins of COVID-19 at the State Council Information Office in Beijing on Saturday. Chinese health officials defended their search for the source of the COVID-19 virus and lashed out Saturday at the World Health Organization after its leader said Beijing …

‘China's moral imperative': WHO chief lashes at Beijing over Covid origin info
1 year, 8 months ago

‘China's moral imperative': WHO chief lashes at Beijing over Covid origin info

Hindustan Times  

The World Health Organization said that the health agency was certain that China had far more data on the origin of Covid that would help in shedding more light on the virus that brought the world to a halt. Covid Origin: World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is seen. all hypotheses are on the table," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom …

'Until China shares all data on COVID origin, all hypotheses remained on table': WHO Chief
1 year, 8 months ago

'Until China shares all data on COVID origin, all hypotheses remained on table': WHO Chief

India TV News  

The World Health Organization chief has again insisted China share proper data on the origin of the COVID-19 virus and said until it shares relevant data, it remains a top mystery for the world. WHO chief urges China to share data "Without full access to the information that China has, all hypotheses are on the table. Further, he expressed grave …

‘Not lying, truth is…’: Scientist who found Wuhan Covid data speaks out
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Not lying, truth is…’: Scientist who found Wuhan Covid data speaks out

Hindustan Times  

A scientist from Paris stumbled upon Covid genetic data which was taken from swabs taken at the Huanan seafood market in China's Wuhan just weeks after the virus first emerged. The data suddenly vanished from public view later but the accidental discovery led to confirmation for the first time that animals susceptible to Covid were present at the Wuhan market. …

COVID-19 origins | GISAID U-turn adds to confusion over ‘new’ Chinese data
1 year, 9 months ago

COVID-19 origins | GISAID U-turn adds to confusion over ‘new’ Chinese data

The Hindu  

In an unusual turn of events, the scientists who recently announced what they said was “compelling” evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic had a ‘natural’ origin rather than being the product of a lab experiment gone awry were banned by GISAID from using the database that contained the genomic information they used for their study – only for the latter to …

Covid ‘most-likely’ jumped from animals to humans, claims new report
1 year, 9 months ago

Covid ‘most-likely’ jumped from animals to humans, claims new report

Hindustan Times  

A new analysis of samples taken from a market in Wuhan, China during the early days of the pandemic are the strongest evidence yet that the Covid-19 virus jumped from animals to humans, some researchers say. “These data do not provide a definitive answer to the question of how the pandemic began,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday in …

WHO accuses China of withholding information on origin of COVID-19
1 year, 9 months ago

WHO accuses China of withholding information on origin of COVID-19

The Hindu  

The World Health Organisation has accused China of withholding information and data that may throw light on the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has asked why such information was not shared three years ago. GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source established in 2008 that provides open access to genomic data of influenza viruses and the coronavirus …

WHO calls on China to be transparent in sharing data to determine Covid\'s origins
1 year, 9 months ago

WHO calls on China to be transparent in sharing data to determine Covid\'s origins

Deccan Chronicle  

United Nations/Geneva: The WHO has criticised China for withholding data related to samples taken at a market in Wuhan in 2020 that could have provided vital information about the Covid-19 pandemic's origins, calling on Beijing to be transparent and to share results of investigations it conducts. “The data, from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, relates to samples …

Three years later, what we know: How did COVID start?
1 year, 9 months ago

Three years later, what we know: How did COVID start?

Al Jazeera  

Three years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, questions linger about the origins of the virus that shut down borders, forced humanity into their homes, battered economies and killed millions of people. In early February, the US Department of Energy’s intelligence agency said with “low confidence” that it believed the virus originated from …

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday
1 year, 9 months ago

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday

LA Times  

The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision. The restrictions were put in place Dec. 28 and took effect Jan. 5 amid the surge in China after the government sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as U.S. health officials expressed concerns that their …

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