WHO scientific panel identifies zoonotic origin as most likely source of COVID-19

WHO advisory group says zoonotic spillover remains strongest lead in COVID-19 origin search

The World Health Organization (WHO) Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) has released its much-anticipated report on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent panel of 27 international experts emphasized that while their work has advanced scientific understanding, critical data gaps remain—particularly due to limited access to key information from China.

In its final report, SAGO concluded that the most supported hypothesis for the emergence of COVID-19 is zoonotic spillover, either directly from bats or through an unidentified intermediate animal host. However, the report stresses that "all hypotheses remain on the table," including the possibility of a laboratory-related incident.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated the call for greater transparency, urging China and other countries to share raw data, genetic sequences, and biosafety records that could help complete the global investigation.

“As things stand, all hypotheses must remain on the table. We continue to appeal to China and any other country that has information about the origins of COVID-19 to share it openly,” Dr. Tedros stated.

SAGO's review included peer-reviewed research, unpublished studies, intelligence reports, government documents, and interviews. Since its inception in 2021, the panel has convened 52 times and consulted with researchers, journalists, and global health experts.

Dr. Marietjie Venter, Chair of SAGO and Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, described the origins inquiry as more than a scientific task.

“This is not solely a scientific endeavour. It is a moral and ethical imperative,” she said. “Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 emerged is vital to preventing future pandemics and reducing global suffering.”

What WHO and SAGO recommend

• Open sharing of genetic sequences from early COVID-19 cases
• Transparency on animal trade data and wildlife surveillance in Wuhan
• Access to lab activity logs and biosafety conditions
• Continued global collaboration under the One Health approach

The investigation was mandated by WHO Member States following a 2020 resolution during the World Health Assembly. A joint mission between Chinese and international experts initially visited China in early 2021, but critical evidence—especially from the early days of the outbreak—remains inaccessible.

SAGO has also developed a broader framework for investigating the origins of emerging pathogens, which WHO plans to use in future outbreaks.

Despite political sensitivities and incomplete data, WHO affirmed that it welcomes any further evidence and that SAGO will continue reviewing new findings to close this critical chapter in global public health.

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