US says hopes WHO report on virus origins is "based on science"

GENEVA - The United States expects the World Health Organization (WHO) investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic to require further study, perhaps including a return visit to China, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

Marc Cassayre, charge d'affaires at the U.S. mission to the U.N. in Geneva, also voiced hope that the WHO-led mission to the central city of Wuhan in Jan.-Feb. had access to the raw data and to the people required to make an independent assessment. The lengthy report by the team - composed of international experts and their Chinese counterparts - is expected to be issued this week, the WHO says.