Strong Evidence That Covid Jumped From Animals To Humans, Claims Report
NDTV
In some samples there was more animal genetic material than human genetic material indicating possible SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals, the report says.
A new analysis of samples taken from a market in Wuhan, China during the early days of the pandemic are the strongest evidence yet that the Covid-19 virus jumped from animals to humans, some researchers say.
The samples found evidence of the presence of the novel coronavirus along with genetic material from multiple animals - including raccoon dogs, which are susceptible to the disease - according to a report published Monday on the Zenodo.org open science website, which builds a case for the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market as the epicenter of the pandemic.
In some samples there was more animal genetic material than human genetic material indicating possible SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals, the report says. Like many studies released quickly during the pandemic, it has not yet undergone review by the scientific community.
Those involved worked to finish the report after early findings garnered intense interest and a flurry of media coverage last week. The World Health Organization has called on China to fully share the genetic data the researchers analyzed, which appeared briefly in a public database before being taken down on March 11. The raw data have still not been made available.
