India Backs Fresh WHO Probe Into Covid Origin
Hindustan Times|October 15, 2021
India on Thursday backed the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to create an expert group to examine the origins of new pathogens, including the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, and said all countries should cooperate with the probe.
Rezaul H Laskar and Sutirtho Patranobis
India Backs Fresh WHO Probe Into Covid Origin

NEW DELHI:

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the launch of the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel thogens (Sag at a news briefing on Wednesday, and Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO's health emergencies programme, said this represented the “last chance to determine the origins of SarsCOV-2.

Responding to WHO's announcement, China warned against any “political manipulation of the renewed probe into the origins of Covid-19.

India has consistently backed all moves by WHO to establish the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, which first emerged in Wuhan, China, and called on all stakeholders, including China, to cooperate with such efforts.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reiterated this position when he was asked about the new expert group at a regular news briefing on Thursday.

“Let me just reiterate what we have stated till now - we have our interest in further studies and data on this issue of the origin [of the coronavirus] and the need for understanding and cooperation by all concerned, he said, without naming China.

The pandemic's biggest mystery

Scientists are not yet sure of how the Sars-Cov-2 came to infect the first human

WHO INITIAL PROBE

In Feb 2021, after conducting part of their study, the WHO stated that the likely origin of Covid-19 was a zoonotic event - the virus was circulating in bats and, perhaps through another animal carrier, spilled on to humans. In March 2021, the WHO published a written renert saying:

1 Direct zoonotic transmission to humans (spillover), assessed as possible to likely

2 Introduction through intermediate host followed by a spillover, assessed as likely to very likely

3 Introduction through the cold chain, assessed as possible

This story is from the October 15, 2021 edition of Hindustan Times.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 15, 2021 edition of Hindustan Times.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMESView All
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
Hindustan Times

Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza

The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Hindustan Times

Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right

Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series

time-read
4 mins  |
February 27, 2024
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Hindustan Times

Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast

Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.

time-read
1 min  |
January 22, 2024
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Hindustan Times

Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti

Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 22, 2024
A temple, 169 years in the making
Hindustan Times

A temple, 169 years in the making

Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed

time-read
8 mins  |
January 22, 2024
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
Hindustan Times

'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket

After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 27, 2024
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
Hindustan Times

Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz

A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).

time-read
2 mins  |
February 27, 2024
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
Hindustan Times

Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way

The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1

time-read
3 mins  |
February 27, 2024
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
Hindustan Times

'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'

With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
Hindustan Times

India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received

The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024