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According to the Reuters agency, Chinese scientists have identified a new potential host for the 2019-nCov coronavirus. Man could contract the pangolin, a wild mammal that is illegally traded for its scales and meat.
Scientists from South China Agricultural University reported that a pangolin (an anteater-like mammal from the pangolin family) may be a potential intermediate host for the 2019-nCov coronavirus. Researchers believe that the new type of coronavirus comes from bats, but they have also suggested that there may be an intermediate host, an infected animal that infects humans. Initially, scientists selected two species of snakes.
After testing more than 1000 samples from wild animals, scientists in China found that the sequence of the genome of the virus that carries the pangolins corresponds to 99% of that of the virus. virus genome sequence taken from patients infected with the coronavirus (data from the official Chinese news agency Xinhua). This means that it is the pangolins that most likely the person contracted the virus. Scientists believe that this discovery is of great importance in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
See also: Scientists have identified the countries most at risk from the Wuhan coronavirus
Pangolins sold in China and Vietnam
Pangolins are considered the most sold wild animals in the world. Over a million pangolins were caught and sold from Asian and African forests in 10 years (data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN). Pangolins are intended for the Chinese and Vietnam markets. Their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine, although there is no evidence of their health effects. The meat of these mammals can be bought on the black market.
Many species of pangolins are endangered precisely because of massive trapping. In the wild, they have few natural enemies. They can only be afraid of tigers or leopards. And man …
In January, China issued a temporary ban on wildlife trade until the outbreak was contained.
See also: Comparison of the coronavirus from Wuhan and SARS
The new type of coronavirus, which we first heard about at the end of 2019, is still dangerous. The virus appeared in Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China, and over 31,5 thousand people have contracted it in over a month. Most of those infected with the 2019-nCov coronavirus are residents of Hubei Province, but the virus has spread throughout China and beyond. Cases of infection were noted, among others in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, United Arab Emirates, but also in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain.
See also: When will the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine be developed?
Coronavirus infection occurs via droplets. The incubation period of the virus is from 1 to 14 days, patients can infect before they develop symptoms, which is particularly dangerous and promotes the spread of the virus.
Up-to-date information on the 2019-nCov coronavirus:
- The range of the Wuhan coronavirus [MAP update 06.02.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX]
- Coronavirus does not give up. WHO Director: “The biggest leap in the history of the epidemic”
- Can parcels from China transmit the coronavirus?
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