GENEVA: The United States on Friday welcomed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic origins which emerged in China in December last year.
“We welcome the WHO’s investigation. We view the scientific investigation as a necessary step to having a complete and transparent understanding of how this virus has spread throughout the world,” US ambassador to United Nations Andrew Bremberg told reporters.
It was an unexpected endorsement, given that the WHO has faced fierce US criticism over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Earlier Friday, an epidemiologist and an animal health specialist from the WHO left for China to try and identify the animal source of the new coronavirus pandemic.
The WHO said the advance team would be in Beijing for the weekend as they lay the groundwork for a wider mission aimed at identifying how the virus jumped from animal to humans.
Bremberg said the US expected the Chinese authorities “will offer the team of scientists full access to data, samples and localities, and look forward to its timely report”.
