wuhan a global team of researchers arrived thursday in the chinese city where the coronavirus pandemic was first detected to conduct a politically sensitive investigation into its origins amid uncertainty about whether beijing might try to prevent embarrassing discoveriesthe group sent to wuhan by the world health organization was approved by president xi jinpings government after months of diplomatic wrangling that prompted an unusual public complaint by the head of whoscientists suspect the virus that has killed more than 19 million people since late 2019 jumped to humans from bats or other animals most likely in chinas southwest the ruling communist party stung by complaints it allowed the disease to spread has suggested the virus came from abroad possibly on imported seafood but international scientists reject thatfifteen team members were to arrive in wuhan on thursday but two tested positive for coronavirus antibodies before leaving singapore and were being retested there who said in a statement on twitterthe rest of the team arrived at the wuhan airport and walked through a makeshift clear plastic tunnel into the airport the researchers who wore face masks were greeted by airport staff in full protective gear including masks goggles and full body suitsthey will undergo a twoweek quarantine as well as a throat swab test and an antibody test for covid19 according to cgtn the englishlanguage channel of state broadcaster cctv they are to start working with chinese experts via video conference while in quarantinethe team includes virus and other experts from the united states australia germany japan britain russia the netherlands qatar and vietnama government spokesman said this week they will exchange views with chinese scientists but gave no indication whether they would be allowed to gather evidencechina rejected demands for an international investigation after the trump administration blamed beijing for the viruss spread which plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930safter australia called in april for an independent inquiry beijing retaliated by blocking imports of australian beef wine and other goodsone possibility is that a wildlife poacher might have passed the virus to traders who carried it to wuhan one of the who team members zoologist peter daszak of the us group ecohealth alliance told the associated press in novembera single visit by scientists is unlikely to confirm the viruss origins pinning down an outbreaks animal reservoir is typically an exhaustive endeavor that takes years of research including taking animal samples genetic analysis and epidemiological studiesthe government should be very transparent and collaborative said shinru shih director at the research center for emerging viral infections at taiwans chang gung universitythe chinese government has tried to stir confusion about the viruss origin it has promoted theories with little evidence that the outbreak might have started with imports of tainted seafood a notion rejected by international scientists and agenciesthe who will need to conduct similar investigations in other places an official of the national health commission mi feng said wednesdaysome members of the who team were en route to