WHO fires scientists tasked with looking into the origins of COVID over sex misconduct

The World Health Organization has fired a scientist who led a COVID origin search over sexual misconduct. WHO says it has boosted efforts to root out sexual abuse in the organization.

"Peter Ben Embarek was dismissed following findings of sexual misconduct against him and corresponding disciplinary process," said spokeswoman Marcia Poole said in an email. "The findings concern allegations relating to 2015 and 2017 that were first received by the WHO investigations team in 2018."

She said other allegations could not be fully investigated as the "victim(s) did not wish to engage with the investigation process."