The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on the United States to share any intelligence it may be withholding regarding the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite Washington’s decision to withdraw from the global health body.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the WHO stressed the importance of transparency and international cooperation in determining how the virus first emerged. The agency said access to all relevant data, including intelligence held by national authorities, is essential to achieving a comprehensive and credible understanding of the pandemic’s beginnings.
The appeal comes amid ongoing debate within the United States over the origins of Covid-19, with discussions ranging from zoonotic transmission to the possibility of a laboratory-related incident. US officials have previously indicated that intelligence assessments on the matter remain inconclusive.
Although the United States has formally exited the WHO, the organization emphasized that global public health security depends on collaboration between all countries, regardless of political or institutional differences.
Health experts say resolving questions around the virus’s origins is not only about accountability but also about preventing future pandemics. Clear findings could inform biosafety standards, early-warning systems and international research protocols.
The WHO reiterated that understanding the source of Covid-19 remains a scientific priority and urged all member states, and non-members, to contribute relevant evidence to the ongoing inquiry.
