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Medical journal refutes Trump claim it published reports about earlier spread of Covid-19 in China

The Lancet described the allegations made by Trump in a letter to the WHO as “serious and damaging”.

THE LANCET MEDICAL journal has refuted a claim made by US President Donald Trump that it published a report in December referring to an outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan, China.

Yesterday, Trump shared a letter he wrote to Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, about a review his administration conducted into the WHO’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

President Trump wrote that “we know the following” and the first allegation he makes is that WHO “consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading in Wuhan in early December 2019 or even earlier, including reports from the Lancet medical journal”.

“The World Health Organization failed to independently investigate credible reports that conflicted directly with the Chinese government’s official accounts, even those that came from sources within Wuhan itself,” he wrote.

Today, the Lancet said “this statement is factually incorrect”.

“The Lancet published no report in December, 2019, referring to a virus or outbreak in Wuhan or anywhere else in China. The first reports the journal published were on January 24, 2020,” the journal said in a statement. 

In a paper by Chaolin Huang and colleagues, the first 41 patients from Wuhan with COVID-19 were described. The scientists and physicians who led this study were all from Chinese institutions. They worked with us to quickly make information about this new epidemic outbreak and the disease it caused fully and freely available to an international audience.
A second paper, from Jasper Chan and colleagues, also published on January 24, described the first scientific evidence confirming person-to-person transmission of the new virus. This report included scientists and physicians from Hong Kong and mainland China.

The Lancet said the allegations levelled against the WHO in this letter from President Trump are “serious and damaging to efforts to strengthen international cooperation to control this pandemic”.

“It is essential that any review of the global response is based on a factually accurate account of what took place in December and January.”

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:35 PM

    Congrats Victoria Mary & Shane – Great songwriter

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:43 PM

    The fact he’s actually still alive is astounding…the amount of abuse the human body can take and still keep on chugging is amazing…

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    Mute Terrence Edwards
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:32 PM

    He’s the same age as me but could pass for my father

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:39 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: does your father have hair?

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    Mute Loretta stiletto
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:42 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: really…. in your opinion

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    Mute Rob Ryan
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:59 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: are there no mirrors in your house chief?

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    Mute Shea Carroll
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:09 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: Very important information. Please keep us posted if you have any more insights

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    Mute Bertrand Bonquer
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    Nov 27th 2018, 3:00 PM

    @Terrence Edwards:
    Eh no. No he wouldn’t.

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    Mute Aine Power
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:58 PM

    Best songwriter I have ever listened to.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:52 PM

    @Aine Power: great man to pen a lyric. Lullaby of london is probably my personal favourite

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Nov 28th 2018, 2:14 AM

    @Aine Power: He’s famous for 1 song really but he can only take credit for 50% of that Christmas jingle?

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    Mute Mari
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:52 PM

    Big congrats guys

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    Mute Danny Ennis
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    Nov 27th 2018, 4:07 PM

    I’d say that was some session

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    Mute damo.f
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:45 PM

    What a lucky gal she is.

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    Mute Ann Moynihan
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    Nov 27th 2018, 7:50 PM

    @damo.f: you have got to be joking!!!

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Nov 27th 2018, 8:32 PM

    @Ann Moynihan: why must he be joking?

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    Mute Rory Mackle
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    Nov 27th 2018, 6:56 PM

    Complete legend hope has a few good years of happiness A pair of brown eyes one of the greatest songs ever

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    Mute Dunn
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    Nov 27th 2018, 5:06 PM

    Huge congratulations.

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    Mute Brian Smith
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    Nov 27th 2018, 7:20 PM

    She now has a husband and a child to look after, all in one ceremony

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    Mute Rory Mackle
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    Nov 27th 2018, 6:56 PM

    Complete legend hope has a few good years of happiness

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    Mute Damien
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:41 PM

    Shes one lucky lady.

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    Mute Damien
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:31 PM

    Imagine waking up to that beautiful face beaide you in bed every morning. Shes a lucky lady.

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