Transcript
While it seems clear the coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China what’s less clear is where it came from in that city.
There are many conspiracy theories out there but to find the real source of this pandemic, it is best to leave it to science.
Chinese researchers say the novel coronavirus most likely comes from bats.
They have already determined that the coronavirus found in humans is almost 96-percent identical to that found in bats.
However how it may have spread from bats to humans continues to be a subject of investigation.
One of the most preeminent virus hunters in the world, Peter Daszak, believes the virus came from the Chinese wet market where wild animals are kept in cages and sold as pets or food.
Feces and blood is everywhere because of the animals, making it the perfect place for viruses to spread.
Dasak says even though the virus could have transferred directly from bat to human, it is most likely it was bats infecting farmed animals which then infected humans.
But other researchers point to reports from China saying the first known patients had no direct exposure to the wet market.
In short, experts are at odds over the wet market theory.
Tensions between the US and China over the origins of the virus and accusations of misinformation from both sides are slowing the work of virus hunters who are grounded by the same travel restrictions that have crippled the world.
That is concerning because without knowing where it came from, there is still a chance that original host species is spreading it.
Posted – 4.7.20