A research team of scientists from the World Health Organization on Wednesday visited the Chinese laboratory that U.S. officials have suggested could be the source of the coronavirus pandemic.
The WHO team spent about 3-1 / 2 hours at the heavily guarded Wuhan Institute of Virology in the city where the global pandemic was detected in late 2019.
While secreting her work there, the team confirmed that they met Shi Zhengli, the lab’s deputy director dubbed the “Bat Woman” for her work with bat viruses, and one of the first to isolate the coronavirus. which causes COVID-19.
“Extremely important meeting today with WIV staff, including Dr. Shi Zhengli. Frank, open discussion. Key questions were asked and answered: “Peter Daszak, member of the WHO team he said on Twitter.
“Very interesting. Lots of questions,” Thea Fischer, a Danish team member, called from her car as she walked away from the lab.
Wuhan’s long-term lab work with bat viruses quickly put him in the spotlight when COVID-19 first emerged in his neighborhood in late 2019, leading the city to 11 million under a strict 76-day closure.
President Trump and his administration have repeatedly highlighted the institution for concerns that the virus arose from a “lab leak.”
Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the new intelligence had only raised suspicions, and that the State Department had produced a “fact sheet” detailing the claims, one that now appears to be offline.
The lab and the Chinese government have repeatedly denied the allegations, and an official recently dismissed Pompey as “Mr. Lies.”
On Wednesday, the WHO team also spoke with experts from Huazhong Agricultural University, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
“It should be noted that virus traceability is a complex scientific issue and we need to provide enough space for experts to conduct scientific research,” Wang said.
“China will continue to cooperate with WHO in an open, transparent and accountable manner, and will help to better prevent future risks and protect the lives and health of people in all countries.”
With publishing cables