Letter to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General World Health Organization - Jeff Sessions Demands Answers from WHO on Chinese Virus Cover-Up

Letter

Dear Director-General Tedros:

I am writing to you today regarding the World Health Organization's (WHO) response to the pandemic currently gripping the world. Since its founding in 1948, the WHO has been entrusted by the world with the task of promoting good health practices, monitoring public health concerns, and coordinating effective international responses to outbreaks. The contributing world has been generous to the WHO and rightly has high expectations. Unfortunately, the WHO's response to the coronavirus outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, has been a failure. The meeting of the World Health Assembly this week has thrown this matter into sharp relief.

The United States has consistently been the single largest contributor to the WHO. Over the past two years, the US has given nearly $900 million to the organization--over 20 percent of its budget. American charities, philanthropists, and companies also contribute generously. It is essential that the American public and the world know their tax dollars are being wisely used. The WHO must be accountable for how it spends its approximately $2.4 billion per year, and for its effectiveness in fulfilling its critical mission.

As you are no doubt aware, the WHO's statement on January 14, 2020 has garnered special attention and criticism. In that statement, the WHO said, "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in Wuhan, China." Of course, we know now that this was false, and China knew it was false. As internal Chinese government documents reported by the Associated Press make clear, the Chinese government had already secretly concluded by January 14 that human-to-human transmission was rampant.

The WHO's decision to advise the world that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus was a decision to spread inaccurate information, and has resulted in incalculable harm. Clearly, this erroneous statement directly contributed to the spread of the Wuhan Virus and misled the world as to the nature and extent of the threat. Unfortunately, that statement on January 14 is but one of many examples of recent failures by the WHO.

If the WHO is to fulfill its mission, and even to continue to exist, it must restore public confidence. It must also make clear that it will not merely repeat without question the preferred talking points of dishonest governments like the Chinese communist regime. Restoration of confidence can be achieved only by complete transparency. To that end, I respectfully request that the WHO answer the following questions:

1. Will the WHO provide complete information concerning its actions involving the Wuhan Virus, including making all of its officers and employees available for a public hearing?

2. When did representatives of the WHO first learn of the possibility of a novel coronavirus spreading in Wuhan, China? What actions did the WHO take to learn more, and when were those actions taken?

3. On January 10, 2020, while the Chinese government was secretly stockpiling and hoarding the world's supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) (including more than 56 million respirators and facemasks), the WHO issued advice that it "does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers to and from Wuhan, China. It is generally considered that entry screening offers little benefit, while requiring considerable resources" (emphasis added). On what information did the WHO base this advice? Which Chinese authorities did it consult regarding this statement before it was issued?

4. Also on January 10, 2020, the WHO "advise[d] against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China," just days before millions traveled throughout China for Lunar New Year celebrations. On what information did the WHO base this advice? Which Chinese authorities did it consult regarding this advice before it was issued? Was any independent assessment made apart from those of the Chinese authorities? By whom and by what means?

5. On January 14, 2020, the WHO suggested to the world that the evidence from China showed that the virus was not transmittable from human-to-human. Who, specifically, from the Chinese government made these assertions to the WHO? Were those assertions made in writing? If so, please make copies of those communications public so the world can see. Please also provide the names of all WHO officials or employees who were in China at the time.

6. After the Chinese government asserted to the WHO that the virus was not transmittable from human-to-human, did the WHO take any action to verify that these assertions were true? Did the WHO make any offer or attempt to have its own experts visit China to study the outbreak? How did the Chinese government respond to those efforts?

7. Did any Chinese authorities dissent from or express doubts to the WHO about the Chinese government's assertion that the virus was not transmittable form human-to-human? What did the WHO do with any such dissent?

8. Did the Chinese government provide any documentation to the WHO to support its assertions that the virus was not transmittable from human-to-human? If so, please make that documentation available to the public.

9. Throughout January and February 2020, both the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO offered technical assistance to China to help arrest the virus' spread and learn from China's response. The New York Times reports those offers, including the WHO's, were rebuffed by China. What rationale did China provide for blocking WHO access to research, medical facilities, and experts? Please make copies of those communications public so the world can see.

10. On January 22, 2020, the WHO emergency committee met and declined to authorize a declaration by the Director-General of "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC). This declaration would have given the Director-General the authority to issue advisory orders to member-states. They did not make the declaration for eight more days. Why was the decision delayed? What national governments were consulted and what did they advise? Please make all deliberation documents and recordings of both committee meetings public for the world to see.

11. Was the WHO provided by the Chinese government with any virus samples or research concerning the virus? If so, what was received and when? Were any such materials requested by the WHO or other countries?

12. The WHO eventually declared the outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. At what point did the WHO realize the virus was transmittable from human-to-human, and what information changed the WHO's belief on this matter?

13. Throughout this outbreak, what information or access has the WHO requested from China, and which of those requests were denied? Are there any outstanding requests from the WHO to Chinese authorities that have not been answered?

Recently, you have also called for "unity" and "solidarity, at a national level and a global level." Surely, you can see that unity and solidarity are impossible when it appears that the world organization most responsible for confronting this pandemic, the WHO, is now operating under a dark cloud. I therefore urge you to answer these questions truthfully and provide the greatest possible public access to the information about the WHO's response to this pandemic.

Any recovery of the credibility of the WHO can only arise from an open and full analysis of its actions and a public acknowledgment of any errors that may have occurred. The world deserves to know the truth.

Sincerely, Jeff Sessions

Former United States Senator for Alabama
Former United States Attorney General

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