World Health Organization researchers are conducting an investigation in the city of Wuhan, China, to track down the origins of COVID-19.

World Health Organization researchers are conducting an investigation in the city of Wuhan, China, to track down the origins of the coronavirus.  Thus far, they have determined that the virus came from an animal source, therefore it was not designed in or escaped from any laboratory at all.

The team has the unconditional support of the Chinese authorities and the itinerary included, first of all, a visit to the popular seafood market located downtown, which is linked to the detection of the first cases of a previously unknown pneumonia by the end of 2019.

However, there is no evidence that the virus -- later named SARS-CoV-2 -- had originated in that place, but rather, the market had served as the scene of a massive contagion.

During a press conference held in Wuhan, the head of the WHO mission, the Danish expert Peter Ben Embarek, said work to identify the origins of COVID-19 pointed to a "natural reservoir" in bats.  The zoonosis expert added that there was "no indication" that the virus was circulating in Wuhan before the first official cases were recorded there in December 2019. 

Regarding whether it had been made by scientists or came from a lab leak, the specialists toured the Wuhan Institute of Virology, one of the most important in China in the study of level 4 pathogens, which require the highest degree of biosafety.  There they met with their counterparts, including virologist Shi Zhengli, a leading global authority in the field.

Ben Embarek pointed out that the hypothesis of a laboratory accident is extremely unlikely, and with it he closes the lid on this controversial theory for future investigations.

In addition, the team called for further investigation into the possibility of "cold chain" transmission, referring to the transport and trade of frozen food, which implies that its transfer from animal to man could have occurred anywhere else.

This puts an end to the groundless speculations and slanders generated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, that hold China responsible for the creation and spread of the pandemic.  

Still, some people, unaware of this actual data, insist on speaking of the "Chinese virus," as they also wrongly mention the "English", "South African" or "Brazilian" variants, just because it was first heard of in one of these countries, even though it had been circulating for some time in other places.