Mike Pompeo's comment on origin of coronavirus remains 'speculative': WHO

World Health Organisation (WHO) said on May 4 that comments of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo over origin of vel coronavirus were “speculative”. During a television interview on May 3, top US diplomat had said that re is “significant amount” of evidence that virus originated from a laboratory in Wuhan.

Dr Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergency expert, told a virtual press conference that UN health ncy has t received any data-specific evidence from US government relating to purported origin of virus. He added that if data and evidence are available, n it will be for United States government to decide wher and when it can be shared.

“So from our perspective, this remains speculative,” said Ryan.

origin of SARS-CoV-2 is t kwn but preliminary studies suggested that bats could be source since coronavirus present in bats has a geme that is 96 per cent identical to vel coronavirus. It is believed that pangolin was immediate host because bat coronavirus cant bind to receptors in human cells, however, re has t been any concrete evidence.

Read: WHO 'keen' To Investigate Origin Of Coronavirus On Invitation From China

Demand for inquiry

United States and Australia have been demanding an independent investigation into origins of coronavirus outbreak, especially after claims, though unsubstantiated, that it originated from a Wuhan laboratory. As demand for an inquiry into origin of coronavirus outbreak gained momentum, WHO reportedly said that it is hoping to get an invite from China to take part in its investigations.

Read: Pompeo Says, 'Ermous Evidence' COVID Originated In Lab'; Contradicts Himself Later

US President Donald Trump has been under fire for his handling of coronavirus which has claimed nearly 70,000 lives in America alone. Trump administration has repeatedly accused Beijing of covering dangerous nature of disease and t reporting sustained human-to-human transmission until it was spread in every province of China. Amid soaring tensions, Chinese state media said that US politicians are trying to shift blame on China for mess y have created with ir domestic anti-Covid efforts.

Read: China Lambasts Mike Pompeo, Calls His ory Of Virus Origin 'insane'

Read: US Could Impose New Tariffs On China As Retaliatory Measure Over COVID-19: Donald Trump