New Cell Study Links COVID-19 Origins to Wuhan Market Animals in Late 2019

Sep 19, 2024, 07:44 PM

A new study published in the journal Cell provides compelling genetic evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from infected animals sold at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China in late 2019. The research, based on more than 800 surface samples collected from wildlife stalls, supports the theory that the virus was transmitted to humans through a natural spillover. This finding aligns with previous studies that have linked the pandemic's origins to zoonotic transmission at the market. The study also identifies raccoon dogs as a potential source of the virus, further reinforcing the market's role in the initial outbreak. The study argues that the pandemic most likely started with Lineage A.