A leaked document shows the US and European Union are calling for a renewed push into the origins of COVID-19

The US and several European countries have called on China to be more transparent about the origins of COVID-19.

The document says: “we call for progress on a transparent, evidence-based, and expert-led WHO study on the origins of COVID-19, that is free from interference.”

The World Health Organisation released a report earlier this year saying the origins of the virus are most likely “natural”. However, it also called for further studies.

President Biden also called for an independent investigation into the origins of the virus last month.

The origins of the coronavirus still remain unclear. Speculation continues to grow around whether the virus was transmitted by an animal or leaked from a lab in Wuhan.

Experts warn of pandemic disaster unless we understand COVID origin

This comes after US infectious disease experts including Scott Gottlieb from Pfizer Inc said we could face ‘COVID-26’ or ‘COVID-32’ if we don’t understand the origins of the virus.

“There’s going to be Covid-26 and Covid-32 unless we fully understand the origins of Covid-19,” says Peter Hotez from the Texas hospital centre for vaccine development.

He says a team should study the virus’ origins in the Hubei province for six months to a year. He added the team should include scientists, epidemiologists, virologists and bat ecologists.

However, Chinese officials say the inquiry is evidence of “stigmatisation, political manipulation and blame-shifting”