New Study Links Covid-19 Origins to Wuhan Market, Raccoon Dog DNA Found

Sep 19, 2024, 05:41 PM

A new study published in 'Cell' provides compelling evidence supporting the theory that the Covid-19 pandemic originated from a natural spillover from animals sold at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The study, which analyzed 800 surface samples collected from wildlife stalls, suggests that humans first caught the virus from infected animals, including raccoon dogs. This new analysis directly refutes previous claims made by the same authors in 2022, indicating that the pandemic most likely started with Lineage A in early December 2019, although early market cases were all Lineage B. The genetic evidence aligns with the theory that the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 is linked to the Huanan market, matching the global common ancestor. The study aims to resolve some controversies surrounding the origins of the virus.