NEW DELHI: After WHO director general Tedros Ghebreyesus effectively revived the Covid-19 lab leak theory by saying that all hypotheses regarding the origin of the virus remained on the table, India on Thursday backed his comments and said it was pertinent to note that he had raised the issue of delays and difficulties in accessing raw data.
Released earlier this week, the China-WHO global study itself seemed to have given a clean chit to China by declaring that the lab leak theory seemed unlikely and that the virus was probably passed on to humans from bats via an intermediary animal. However, a day later, Ghebreyesus said no theory had been ruled out by the WHO, reviving the question of access to data for the global study team.
“We fully support the director general’s expectation that future collaborative studies will include more timely and comprehensive data sharing. In this connection, we also welcome his readiness to deploy additional missions,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Interestingly, India had backed calls for a full investigation into the origin of the virus last year, just ahead of a flare-up in border tensions with China. The Indian position had not gone down well with China which has lashed out at countries seeking greater accountability for the pandemic. The government said the report represented an important first step in establishing the origins of Covid. “It has listed four pathways concerning the emergence of the disease but has stressed the need for nextphase studies across the region. The report stresses the need for further data and studies,” the spokesperson said.
The government joined other stakeholders in voicing their expectations “that follow up to the WHO report or further studies, including on an understanding of the earliest human cases and clusters by WHO on this issue, will receive fullest cooperation of all concerned”. The Chinese foreign ministry had said on Wednesday that members of the group which conducted the study “unanimously agreed” the lab-leak allegation was “extremely unlikely”.
Released earlier this week, the China-WHO global study itself seemed to have given a clean chit to China by declaring that the lab leak theory seemed unlikely and that the virus was probably passed on to humans from bats via an intermediary animal. However, a day later, Ghebreyesus said no theory had been ruled out by the WHO, reviving the question of access to data for the global study team.
“We fully support the director general’s expectation that future collaborative studies will include more timely and comprehensive data sharing. In this connection, we also welcome his readiness to deploy additional missions,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Interestingly, India had backed calls for a full investigation into the origin of the virus last year, just ahead of a flare-up in border tensions with China. The Indian position had not gone down well with China which has lashed out at countries seeking greater accountability for the pandemic. The government said the report represented an important first step in establishing the origins of Covid. “It has listed four pathways concerning the emergence of the disease but has stressed the need for nextphase studies across the region. The report stresses the need for further data and studies,” the spokesperson said.
The government joined other stakeholders in voicing their expectations “that follow up to the WHO report or further studies, including on an understanding of the earliest human cases and clusters by WHO on this issue, will receive fullest cooperation of all concerned”. The Chinese foreign ministry had said on Wednesday that members of the group which conducted the study “unanimously agreed” the lab-leak allegation was “extremely unlikely”.