WHO´s Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) held its first meeting yesterday.The meeting was largely procedural, and included the appointment of the Chair (Dr.
Marietjie Venter from South Africa) and Vice-Chair (Dr Jean-Claude Manuguerra from France).As per established WHO procedures for advisory expert groups, SAGO meetings will not be public.
WHO will provide updates on their work as appropriate. The group agreed to meet frequently and focus urgently on advising on the overarching framework to study the emergence of novel pathogens, as well as to rapidly undertake an assessment of the current understanding of the origins of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19.