NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the “Background” below.

1. Define the following as used in the article:

• viable (from paragraph 1)
• zoonotic (para. 3)
• mitigate (para. 4)
• conflict of interest (para. 9)

2. List the who, what, where and when of this news report.

3. a) What are the scientists calling for? Be specific.
b) For what reasons are these scientists calling for a legitimate investigation to take place?

4. In their March 2021 report on the origin of the virus, what explanation did the WHO and China give as the reason for the Covid-19 outbreak?

5. What possibility did Dr. David Relman, professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University say should be considered?

6. What motive would China’s Communist government, run by ruler for life Xi Jinping have for claiming the spread of the virus was not caused by his government?

7. a) Read “The Problem with Tedros, Ghebreyesus, head of the WHO” under “Background” below. What should the U.S. and our allies do about this?

NOTE: In 2010, Reuters reported that WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, speaking a day after returning from a visit to North Korea, “said its health system would be the envy of many developing countries because of the abundance of medical staff that it has available.” Reuters also noted that Chan said no one was overweight in North Korea - and that she saw no evidence of starving people as had been reported by multiple news outlets.

8. a) If found to be responsible, what should China be required to do? (What should the world demand of China?) Explain your answer.
b) What do you think President Biden should do? Explain your answer.
c) Do you think leaders of democratic countries have the courage/integrity/resoluteness to hold China accountable? Explain your answer.

CHALLENGE: Read a March 31 commentary by Betsy McCaughey “New WHO-China report on COVID origins is just more of the old runaround” posted in “Background” below the questions.
a) Why had a global group of epidemiologists and other scientists questioned he WHO/China report even before its release in March?
b) The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations “responsible for international public health.” China controls the World Health Organization (WHO). What should every American learn from Betsy McCaughey’s commentary?