The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized Chinese officials for withholding research that could link the origin of Covid-19 to wild animals, questioning why the data was not disclosed three years ago and why it is currently inaccessible. The data surfaced online in January 2023, and was scrutinized by a team of international virus specialists before vanishing. Experts believe that the data suggests the outbreak may have originated when illegally traded raccoon dogs infected humans at a seafood market in Wuhan. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, said the missing evidence “needs to be shared with the international community immediately”.