The World Health Organization on Monday implored China to share data and access to help understand how Covid-19 began, five years after the start of the pandemic that shook the planet.
Covid-19 has killed millions of people, destroyed economies and paralyzed health systems.
“We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of Covid-19. This is a moral and scientific imperative,” the WHO said in a statement.
“Without transparency, sharing and cooperation between countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics. »
The WHO recounted how, on December 31, 2019, its country office in China received a media statement from health authorities in Wuhan regarding cases of “viral pneumonia” in the city.
“In the weeks, months and years that followed, Covid-19 has shaped our lives and our world,” the UN health agency said.
“As we mark this milestone, let us take a moment to honor the lives changed and lost, recognize those suffering from Covid-19 and Long Covid, express our gratitude to the health workers who have sacrificed so much to care for us and Let’s commit to learning from Covid-19 to build a healthier future.
Earlier this month, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the question of whether the world was better prepared for the next pandemic than for Covid-19.
“The answer is yes and no,” he told a news conference.
“If the next pandemic occurred today, the world would still face the same weaknesses and vulnerabilities that allowed Covid-19 to gain a foothold five years ago.
“But the world has also learned many of the painful lessons the pandemic has taught us and taken significant steps to strengthen its defenses against future epidemics and pandemics. »
In December 2021, frightened by the devastation caused by Covid, countries decided to begin drafting an agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The 194 WHO member states negotiating the treaty have agreed on most of what it should include, but are stuck on practicalities.
A key fault line is between Western countries with large pharmaceutical sectors and poorer countries that fear being left behind when the next pandemic hits.
Although the outstanding issues are few, they include the heart of the agreement: the obligation to quickly share emerging pathogens, and then the resulting benefits in the fight against the pandemic, such as vaccines.
The deadline for negotiations is May 2025.
