GISAID (Global Initiative On Sharing All Influenza Data)

• Scientists were banned by GISAID from using the database that contained the genomic information they used for their study on COVID-19 virus origins.
• Many scientists have expressed surprise about the ban which appears to have further vitiated public conversations as well as intensified the spotlight on China’s recalcitrance against international investigations on the virus’s origins.

About GISAID

• Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) is an open-access database that was launched in 2008 by WHO.
• In 2010, Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform.
• Its initiative promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19.
• The Initiative ensures that open access to data in GISAID is provided free-of-charge to all individuals that agreed to identify themselves and agreed to uphold the GISAID sharing mechanism governed through its Database Access Agreement.