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Tengrinews.kz - A group of scientists from the United States, Britain, France, and other countries has proven that the seafood market in the Chinese city of Wuhan was the epicenter of the spread of the coronavirus. This is stated in an article published in the American scientific journal Cell, according to RBC.
"The Huanan market was known for selling wild animals in Wuhan, a city of over 12 million people. In the fall of 2019, raccoon dogs, masked palm civets, hoary bamboo rats, and other animals were being illegally sold at the market. Most of these vendors were located in the western part of the market, where the first cases of COVID-19 were registered," the article states.
After studying samples of genetic material taken from the market, it became clear that they matched the genetic characteristics of the common ancestor of the coronavirus. Traces of the virus were found on animal cages, transport carts, and in sewage drains. The samples taken genetically corresponded to the common ancestor of the entire pandemic.
Scientists describe two hypothetical scenarios for the virus's spread: either from animals (though they couldn't identify the exact species) to humans, or the virus was brought to the market by people.
No genetic material from bats has been found, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) previously identified bats as one of the most likely sources of the COVID-19 outbreak in its 2021 report.
The WHO believes that the coronavirus most likely originated naturally, though hypotheses about its lab origin have also been proposed. In Wuhan, where coronaviruses were being studied, there were theories about a possible biomaterial leak or even Beijing developing biological weapons. China has consistently denied these accusations, insisting on stopping the discrediting of the country and the politicization of the issue.
Read also: Dozens of new viruses in animals on Chinese fur farms
