The World Health Organisation formed a new advisory group to determine the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is the second time that the global health body is putting together a team to put to rest speculations and theories that surround the genesis of the coronavirus. International teams have already visited China twice for this purpose.

What

1. The report of the first phase of investigation listed four possible scenarios pertaining to the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. The WHO report concluded that the virus possibly made its way to the human population through direct zootonic transmission.
3. It further said that introduction through an intermediate host or through the cold food chain products is also likely.
4. It cited introduction through a laboratory incident as the least likely of all possible pathways.
5. The sole Indian on the team is epidemiologist and Padma Shri-winner Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar.
6. For months, countries around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, have called for thorough studies into the origin of the virus, including the lab leak theory.