The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called on the United States to provide any intelligence it may be withholding about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Washington’s formal withdrawal from the agency.
COVID-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, has claimed an estimated 20 million lives globally, according to the UN health agency, while devastating economies, overwhelming health systems, and disrupting millions of lives. Determining the virus’s origins is seen as crucial for preventing future pandemics.
On his first day back in office in January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump submitted the country’s one-year withdrawal notice, citing what his administration described as the WHO’s mishandling of the pandemic. Trump’s government has officially supported the theory that SARS-CoV-2 may have leaked from a Wuhan laboratory.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the United States did not share any intelligence on COVID-19 origins before leaving the organization. “Some countries have publicly said they possess intelligence about the origins especially the U.S.,” Tedros said at a press briefing. “Several months ago, we wrote to senior U.S. officials requesting any information they have. We have not received anything.”
Tedros emphasized the importance of such data, explaining that understanding the virus’s source is essential to preventing future outbreaks. WHO investigations remain inconclusive, with all hypotheses still under consideration.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s head of epidemic and pandemic threat management, said the agency continues to follow up with governments, including the U.S., that have claimed to hold intelligence. “We do not have those reports to date, other than what is publicly available,” she said.
As the U.S. withdrawal notice expired on January 22, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused the WHO of obstructing the timely sharing of critical information that could have saved American lives and criticized the agency for undermining U.S. efforts. The WHO rejected these claims.
While the WHO’s constitution does not formally provide for withdrawal, the United States, when joining in 1948, reserved the right to leave with a one-year notice, provided it fulfilled its financial obligations.
Despite the notice period ending, Washington has not yet paid its 2024 or 2025 dues, reportedly owing around $260 million.