The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that its newly formed advisory group on dangerous pathogens may be the last chance to ascertain the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The global health body urged China to share data from early cases.

On Wednesday, the agency announced the names of the 26 proposed members of the Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), which include Marion Koopmans, Thea Fischer, Hung Nguyen and the animal health expert from China, Yang Yungui, who participated in the joint probe done in Wuhan.

WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, Maria van Kerkhove, expressed hope that there would be further international missions to China led by the WHO. She added that over three dozen recommended studies must still be conducted to find out how the virus crossed from animal species to humans… (NDTV – Reuters, October 14, 2021)