SAGO Invites Chinese Scientists to View Photos of Animal Market in Wuhan
Scientific Advisory Group on the Origin of Emerging Pathogens (SAGO), subdivision World Health Organization (WHO), made recommendations China to investigate the origin of COVID-19. They write about it RIA News.
SAGO said the data provided by the Chinese researchers contains “historical photographic evidence” that shows raccoon dogs and other animals were sold at a market in Wuhan in the past. At the same time, the information cannot be considered conclusive proof of the origin of SARS-CoV-2, but illustrates that there could be animals susceptible to the virus on the shelves, which could then infect people. .
“SAGO strongly encourages professionals in China to investigate the origins of animals and animal products displayed in Huanan Market immediately prior to its closure and removal of all animal products on January 1, 2020,” says the press release.
The WHO team plans to continue to study all incoming data on coronavirus infection and demands to immediately provide any information related to the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
In June 2022 SAGO urged to continue investigating the theory that the coronavirus leaked from the lab. The scientists noted that based on the available epidemiological data, it can be assumed that the previous strains of coronavirus are zoonotic in nature, and its genetically closest viruses are the betacoronaviruses found in horseshoe bats in China in 2013 and Laos in 2020.