Fijivillage
18 February, 2026, 12:08 pm
Central - 30°C Rain
18 February, 2026, 12:08 pm Central - 30°C Rain

WHO says 'extremely unlikely' virus leaked from a lab in China

WHO says 'extremely unlikely' virus leaked from a lab in China

By Semi Turaga
10/02/2021
Peter Ben Embarek speaks during a news conference to wrap up a visit by an international team of experts from the World Health Organization in the city of Wuhan, China, on Tuesday. [Image: bbc]

International experts investigating the origins of Covid-19 have all but dismissed a theory that the virus came from a laboratory in China.

Peter Ben Embarek who is the head of the World Health Organisation mission said it was extremely unlikely that the virus leaked from a lab in the city of Wuhan.

He said more work was needed to identify the source of the virus.

BBC News reports the comments came at the conclusion of a joint WHO-China mission.

Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province, is the first place in the world that the virus was detected.

Since then, more than 106 million cases and 2.3 million deaths have been reported worldwide.

Dr Embarek says the investigation had uncovered new information but had not dramatically changed the picture of the outbreak.

Experts believe the virus is likely to have originated in animals before spreading to humans, but they are not sure how.

[Source: BBC]

FEATURE NEWS
Hearing for Judicial Review of COI set for 10th to 12th April
The hearing for the judicial review into the Commission of Inquiry Report regarding the appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner will be ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Ash Wednesday marks a sacred call to spiritual renewal.
As the sun shone over the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, members joined fellow worshippers today to observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of ...
5 minutes ago

Son and mother left homeless after fire in Saru, Lautoka
30-year-old Binitesh Sharma and his 72-year-old mother, Veenat Kumari, are homeless after a fire destroys their two-bedroom home at Saru Back Road in ...
15 minutes ago

Hearing for Judicial Review of COI set for 10th to 12th April
The hearing for the judicial review into the Commission of Inquiry Report regarding the appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner will be ...
2 hours ago

Free heart checks carried out for 1,487 children at Dilkusha Primary
A total of 1,487 free heart screenings were conducted for children by Shree Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital Fiji during an outreach ...
2 hours ago

At 27, Reapi becomes Dux after being turned away when in Year 13
After being turned away from her Year 13 external exam because her family could not afford $570 in school fees, Reapi Tabuaniviti finally returned to ...
3 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
12 days ago

Malimali and others filed for judicial review into COI
The application for leave for the judicial review has been made by former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney General Graham Leung ...
12 days ago

Malimali’s legal battle against President, PM and AG
Another legal battle starts today as sacked FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali takes her matter to court against the President, Prime Minister and ...
13 days ago

TOP