Wuhan

Theory That COVID Came From A Chinese Lab Takes On New Life In Wake Of WHO Report

9:01am April 01, 2021

by John Ruwitch

Some scientists worry the possibility the coronavirus escaped from research facilities hasn't gotten enough scrutiny. Others say it appears far more likely to have emerged naturally.

World Health Organization investigative team member Peter Daszak (shown here during a trip to China in February) tells NPR that the group's report calls for additional research on farms that breed exotic animals in southern China.

WHO Report: Wildlife Farms, Not Market, Likely Source Of Coronavirus Pandemic

8:35pm March 29, 2021

NPR has obtained an early copy of the report, which states that the coronavirus most likely did not originate at the wet market in Wuhan and that a lab leak was "an extremely unlikely pathway."

Why Pandemics Give Birth To Hate: From Bubonic Plague To COVID-19

3:04pm March 26, 2021

by Joanne Lu

The Atlanta shooting has led to heated discussion about the blame — and violence — aimed at Asians during the pandemic. It's the latest example in a long history of hatred fueled by disease.

Bamboo rats are among the wild animals farmed for food in China and other parts of Asia. A member of the World Health Organization team investigating the coronavirus pandemic says its report will conclude that such animal farms are likely the place where

Health & Safety

WHO Points To Wildlife Farms In Southern China As Likely Source Of Pandemic

7:51pm March 15, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Peter Daszak of the investigative team sent to Wuhan says the farms were probably where the coronavirus first jumped from bats to another animal before infecting humans.

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Peter Ben Embarek, of the World Health Organization team (right) shakes hands with Liang Wannian, his Chinese counterpart, after a news conference on Tuesday in Wuhan, China. The White House says it has "deep concerns" over how initial findings were commu

White House: China Must Release Data From The 'Earliest Days Of The Outbreak'

3:02pm February 13, 2021

by Jason Slotkin

The White House has "deep concerns" over how initial findings on the coronavirus were communicated and demands China make data available to investigators, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says.

A health officer in a protective suit collects a sample from a package of imported frozen food for coronavirus rapid test at a wholesale market in China.

Can Frozen Food Spread The Coronavirus?

5:43pm February 12, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

At a news conference this week, the World Health Organization made a surprising statement: The coronavirus could possibly transmit on frozen packages of food.

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Peter Ben Embarek speaks during a news conference to wrap up a visit by an international team of experts from the World Health Organization in the city of Wuhan, China, on Tuesday.

WHO: 'Very Unlikely' Coronavirus Leaked From Lab, More Study Needed To Trace Source

4:19pm February 09, 2021

by Emily Feng

The coronavirus is "very unlikely" to have started in a Chinese lab but its path from animals to humans needs further investigation, a World Health Organization team said after visiting Wuhan.

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A woman walks in a park along Yangtze River in Wuhan on Jan. 19, 2021. Residents of the city of 11 million, which was the first epicenter of COVID-19, have conflicting emotions as they reckon with the aftermath of the virus and their 76-day lockdown.

Health & Safety

Wuhan's Lockdown Memories One Year Later: Pride, Anger, Deep Pain

11:29pm January 23, 2021

by Emily Feng

Jan. 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the strict lockdown imposed on the first epicenter of COVID-19. Here's what residents have to say about their experience.

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A pro-democracy activist holds placards with the picture of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan outside the Chinese central government's liaison office, in Hong Kong, Monday. Activists demand the release of Zhang, as well as the 12 Hong Kong activists d

World News

U.S. And EU Condemn Jailing Of Lawyer Who Reported On Coronavirus In Wuhan

6:04pm December 29, 2020

by Reese Oxner

Zhang Zhan was detained in May after reporting on the coronavirus response in China. Now, she faces years in prison as officials try to silence reports that differ from their own.

do's and don'ts of caring for older people in the pandemic

11 Original NPR Comics That Brought Joy, Hope And Help During The Pandemic

3:16pm December 23, 2020

by Malaka Gharib

In 2020, NPR created and published more than a dozen comics for the pandemic — everything from how to explain it to kids to how to help the older people in your life.