Coronavirus ‘very likely’ came from animals rather than a lab, says WHO

'It most likely has its ecological reservoir in bats but how the virus came from bats to humans is still to be seen and discovered,' spokesperson says

All evidence suggests the coronavirus originated in animals in China late last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, dispelling theories it was produced in a laboratory.

Last week, Donald Trump said his government was attempting to determine whether the virus emanated from a lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which became the epicentre out the virus outbreak in December.

“All available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

“It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin.”

However, Ms Chaib said it was not clear how the virus had jumped the species to humans, but said there had “certainly” been an intermediate animal host.

“It most likely has its ecological reservoir in bats but how the virus came from bats to humans is still to be seen and discovered,” she added.

She did not respond to a request to elaborate on whether it was possible the virus had inadvertently escaped from a lab.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed rumours that it synthesised the virus or allowed it to escape.

Ms Chaib, asked about the impact of Mr Trump’s decision to suspend funding to the UN agency over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic last week, said: “We are still assessing the situation about the announcement by President Trump ... and we will assess the situation and we will work with our partners to fill any gaps.”

“It is very important to continue what we are doing not only for Covid but for many, many, many, many other health programmes,” she added, referring to action against polio, HIV and malaria among other diseases.

She said the WHO was 81 per cent funded for the next two years as of the end of March, referring to its $4.8bn (£3.9bn) biennial budget. The US is the Geneva-based agency’s biggest donor. Other big contributors are the Gates Foundation and Britain.