The source of the coronavirus, sars-cov-2, was actually the Wuhan, China, animal market. Furthermore, a recent study indicates that two animal species are probably to account for its spread to humans.
The materials gathered from Wuhan, China’s livestock market during the pandemic have been examined by the researchers once more. They now show that there is a far higher likelihood that the sars-cov-2 virus was disseminated through the market and that there were likely just two or fewer animal species that were responsible for the virus’s transmission to humans.
The majority of scientists concur that bats are the virus’s original host, but that another animal is required for human transmission.
Two in particular are mentioned in the study, which was published in the journal Cell: the worm palm marten and the marten dog. The worm palm marten is widespread in Southeast Asia, while the marten dog is primarily found in Asia. It is also present as an invasive species in some parts of Europe and Sweden. Sars-cov-2 can be carried by both.
Three other animal species—the hedgehog Erinaceus amurensis, the rat Rhizomys pruinosus, and the short-tailed porcupine—are listed as potential hosts but are considered less plausible.
There has previously been conjecture that the virus was actually disseminated, either unintentionally or on purpose, from the Wuhan Institute of Virology due to a lack of information regarding the host animal.
