Science & Technology

Findings of major new study into origins of Covid pandemic published

By T.K. Randall
September 20, 2024

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) The coronavirus pandemic, which spread far and wide back in early 2020, has since been the subject of intense controversy, scrutiny and debate - especially with regard to where it originated.

While most people agree that it began in China, there has been a great deal of disagreement over whether the virus had started in a wet market or if it had escaped from a laboratory.

Now, according to the findings of a major new international study, scientists have concluded that the virus most likely did originate at a wet market in Wuhan, China.

The study authors found traces of Covid-19 in genetic samples taken from animals sold at market stalls in Wuhan back in 2019, thus proving that it existed in the wet markets at that time.

"This adds another layer to the accumulating evidence that all points to the same scenario: that infected animals were introduced into the market in mid-to late November 2019, which sparked the pandemic," said lead study author Kristian Andersen from Scripps Research.Several animal species were thought to be carrying the virus, including raccoon dogs, masked palm civets, hoary bamboo rats and Mayalan porcupines.

Many of the earliest known cases of human infection were workers from these markets.

The study highlights the threat still posed by wet markets in the country.

"This is the most risky thing we can do - take wild animals that are teeming with viruses and then play with fire by bringing them into contact with humans living in the heart of big cities, whose population densities make it easy for these viruses to take hold," said study co-author Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona.

In other words, unless changes are made, the same thing could happen again in the future.

Source: Mail Online

Tags: Covid, Pandemic