The COVID-19 pandemic started at a Wuhan market. Researchers settled the dispute

Two studies published on Tuesday in the prestigious Science journal confirm the COVID-19 pandemic started at a market in Wuhan, China, pointing to a very likely animal origin of the virus, AFP said.

1. The COVID-19 epidemic broke out in Wuhan at the end of 2019. December 10 is considered a symbolic beginning. It was then that a woman who had previously shopped at the marketplace began to feel unwell and to have a high fever
2. From the beginning of the pandemic, scientists have suggested the animal origin of the virus
3. However, theories soon emerged that the pandemic could have been “caused” by human action, and the SARS-CoV-2 virus could have leaked from the Wuhan laboratory
4. More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page  

The first study is a geographic analysis showing that the first cases detected in December 2019 centered around the Wuhan market. The second is the genomic analysis of the virus from the first cases, showing that the virus is very unlikely to be widely distributed to humans before November 2019.

One of the authors of the study, Michael Worobey, a virologist at the University of Arizona, signed a letter in 2021 calling for serious consideration of the coronavirus leak from a Wuhan lab.

“However, the data analyzed since then has led me to evolve my thinking to such an extent that today I also believe that it is simply unlikely that the virus will find its way to humans in any other way than through the animal trade at a Wuhan market,” said Worobey .

Kristian Andersen of the Scripps Research Institute, as well as one of the co-authors of the study, said: “Have we refuted the laboratory leak theory? Not. Can we do it someday? Not. But I think it’s important to understand that other scenarios are possible. But possible does not mean very likely ”.

The first study analyzed the places of residence of the first 155 cases of infection identified in December 2019. Among the studied cases, people not directly related to the market lived closer to it than people working there or visiting it at that time. This indicates that these people were probably infected due to their proximity to the site.

Researchers also analyzed samples taken from the market in January 2020, e.g. from cages or trolleys. Their analyzes show that SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were concentrated in the southwestern part of the market, exactly where live animals (including raccoon dogs, foxes, etc.) were sold.

However, no animal has been identified as an intermediary between bats, coronavirus carriers and humans.

The second study is based on an analysis of the genome of the virus that infected the first cases. It was concluded that two virus lines, A and B, existed before February 2020, and that both probably resulted from two separate cases of human transmission.

Earlier research suggested that the B line evolved from the A line.

Moving on, the researchers point out that it is important to understand where the animals sold at the Wuhan market come from in order to minimize future risks.

“There is a general impression that there is no information that can tell us anything about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic,” commented Kristian Andersen. “That’s just wrong.” Pandemics do not require a responsible person but do need to be understood by us ”.