Calay News
The animal in question is a species of raccoon-like mammal that originates in China and Japan, although it has been introduced to other areas such as the Caucasus. Due to its colonization potential, it is considered an invasive species, although it is not endangered. On the other hand, more than two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, its origin remains uncertain. According to a recent study by French scientists, the virus originated from animal-to-human transmission, as indicated in genetic studies presented by the WHO Scientific Advisory Group on the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO).
The researchers had access to data and genetic sequences of the virus published in the Gisad database in China. These data indicate that the virus originated in another mammal, such as raccoons and civets, which are susceptible to the virus. This strengthens the hypothesis that the virus did not emerge from a Wuhan laboratory, as previously claimed, but was transmitted from animals to humans.
Although Wuhan remains controversial as the virus originated in one of its markets, according to Science evolutionary biologist Kristian Andersen. Because of these findings, the researchers contacted China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention to collaborate in the investigation, but their response was negative and the data disappeared from the Gisad database.
WHO has requested that the Chinese authorities provide information so that it can be further analyzed. Although these data do not allow a definitive conclusion to be drawn about the origin of the virus, they are an important piece in moving closer to an answer. The director general of the organization has urged China to act with transparency and stated that this information should have been shared three years ago.
