Evidence points to Wuhan market as source of covid-19 outbreak

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Covid-19

Genetic testing on samples collected during the earliest days of the covid-19 outbreak suggests it is likely that the virus spread from animals to humans at the Huanan seafood market

, China, has identified a shortlist of wild animals being sold there that were the most likely source of the virus that sparked theAn alternative suggestion is that the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where staff were known to be studying bat coronaviruses, but not SARS-CoV-2.

Contrary to some statements made by Chinese investigators, the team found evidence for a variety of wildlife being sold at the market that could have been an intermediate host for the virus, including common raccoon dogs (Importantly, traces of these animals were found in exactly the same stalls as SARS-CoV-2, says Holmes. “This suggests – but does not prove – that the animals were infected. Hence, it is very likely that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in a live animal market.

The genetic studies of the virus in the earliest covid-19 cases revealed that few, if any, people were infected prior to the market outbreak, the team reports. However, it couldn’t rule out the possibility that the virus was brought to the market by an infected person handling animals.at NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal, says the study highlights the preventable risks posed by the human-wildlife interface in Huanan market, and the need to mitigate these risks in similar locations.

“This included one influenza virus with zoonotic spillover potential and an animal virus closely related to others that had caused devastating animal outbreaks.”

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