Official WHO publications or press releases

WHO Urges China to Share Covid-19 Origins Data on Fifth Anniversary, Reports Over 7 Million Deaths

Dec 30, 2024, 04:32 PM

On December 31, 2019, authorities in the Chinese city of Wuhan notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of several cases of an unknown pneumonia, marking the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Five years later, the WHO has reported over 777 million cases and 7 million deaths due to the virus, though it acknowledges the actual number of deaths may be three times higher, exceeding 20 million. In the last four-week reporting period, 77 countries reported cases and 27 deaths worldwide. The WHO has urged China to share more data on the origins of Covid-19 on this fifth anniversary. The first cases were identified by doctors at Wuhan Central Hospital, including Dr. Ai Fen and Dr. Li Wenliang, who warned their colleagues about the emerging SARS-related coronavirus infections. Dr. Li Wenliang, who was later arrested for 'spreading rumors', died 39 days after his initial warning. The WHO activated emergency systems on January 1, 2020, informed the world on January 4, and published comprehensive guidelines between January 9 and 12. The organization has also highlighted the need for global health equity and preparedness, noting the rise of misinformation and the ongoing threat of other viruses like H5N1. The WHO also mentioned that 6% of symptomatic infections lead to 'covid persistente', a condition that continues to burden health systems.