The origins of the COVID-19 pandemic remain unresolved, despite more than three years of investigation and key information needed to reach a definitive conclusion appears to be missing. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to urge countries, particularly the United States, to share intelligence related to the virus’s emergence, but to date, those calls have gone unanswered.
The global impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been devastating. The UN health agency estimates that approximately 20 million people have died as a result of the pandemic, with widespread economic disruption and strain on healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding how the virus originated is considered crucial to preventing future outbreaks.
The first known cases of COVID-19 were detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. While initial investigations pointed towards a zoonotic spillover – transmission from animals to humans – the possibility of a laboratory incident has remained a subject of debate. The WHO’s Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) has concluded that the weight of available evidence suggests a zoonotic origin, either directly from bats or through an intermediate host, but stresses that all hypotheses remain viable due to data gaps.
The situation has been further complicated by geopolitical factors. In January 2025, the United States, under President Donald Trump, initiated a one-year withdrawal from the WHO, citing the organization’s handling of the pandemic. The Trump administration publicly embraced the theory that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, the WHO stated that the US did not share any relevant intelligence before leaving the organization.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly appealed for information. “As things stand, all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak,” he stated. He confirmed that the WHO had formally requested intelligence from the US, stating, “We haven’t received any information.” He emphasized the importance of understanding the origins of COVID-19 to prepare for and prevent future pandemics.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic threat management chief, echoed this sentiment, noting that the organization continues to follow up with all governments believed to possess relevant intelligence. “We don’t have those reports to date,” she said, adding that the WHO has only had access to information already in the public domain.
Following the expiration of the US withdrawal notice on , US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Accused the WHO of obstructing the timely sharing of critical information and of unfairly criticizing the US response to the pandemic. The WHO refuted these claims, asserting that the opposite was true.
The WHO’s constitution does not provide a mechanism for member states to withdraw. However, the United States reserved the right to withdraw when it initially joined the organization in 1948, stipulating a one-year notice period and full payment of financial obligations. As of February 2026, the US has not paid its assessed contributions for 2024 or 2025, amounting to approximately $260 million.
The lack of transparency and data sharing, particularly from China, has significantly hampered the WHO’s investigation. The organization has requested hundreds of genetic sequences from early COVID-19 cases, detailed information about animals sold at markets in Wuhan, and data on work conducted and biosafety conditions at laboratories in Wuhan. This information has not been forthcoming.
SAGO published initial findings in June 2022, and the current report represents an update based on peer-reviewed research, unpublished data, field studies, interviews, and government reports. Despite convening 52 times, the expert panel remains unable to draw firm conclusions without access to crucial information.
The ongoing impasse highlights the challenges of international cooperation in the face of a global health crisis. The WHO’s continued call for transparency and data sharing underscores the importance of a collaborative approach to pandemic preparedness and response. Without a complete understanding of the origins of COVID-19, the world remains vulnerable to future outbreaks.
