What's happened
A recent study published in Cell identifies raccoon dogs and other animals at Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market as likely sources of the COVID-19 virus. Researchers analyzed genetic samples collected in January 2020, reinforcing the theory that the virus originated from animals sold at the market, rather than from a lab leak.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, researchers found that raccoon dogs and other mammals at the Huanan Seafood Market likely transmitted the virus to humans. Professor Michael Worobey stated, "It’s far beyond reasonable doubt that this is how it happened." In contrast, SBS highlighted that while the study provides strong evidence for wildlife stalls being a hotspot, it does not conclusively rule out other origins. The debate continues, with some experts emphasizing the need for further investigation into the virus's initial transmission pathways.
How we got here
The origins of COVID-19 have been debated since the virus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019. While some theories suggest a lab leak, the scientific community has increasingly leaned towards animal transmission, particularly from wildlife sold at local markets.
More on these topics
-
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.
-
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province in the People's Republic of China. It is the largest city in Hubei and the most populous city in Central China, with a population of over 11 million, the ninth-most populous Chinese city and one of the nine National
-
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment
-
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.