A team of WHO scientists who recently interacted with scientist from Wuhan in China has said that bats were most likely the source of coronavirus. The comments came after having “extensive discussions” and exchanges, including video conferences, with virologists and scientists from Wuhan. Bats along with Pangolins have been majorly blamed by researchers globally for the pandemic which originated in ‘wet markets’ of Wuhan. According to reports, the talks also included an update on Animal Health research along with genetic analysis. As a result of discussions, the WHO team found that virus most likely originated in bats, however, it had another “intermediately animal host”.
The World Health team, comprising specialists in animal health and epidemiology, will spend three weeks in China, laying the groundwork for a broader investigation into pandemic’s source. Chinese and international experts from around the world are finding how the virus that causes Covid-19 jumped the species barrier from animals to humans. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have said the pathogen may have originated in a laboratory in Wuhan. However China has denied all such claims. The first patient was admitted to a hospital on December 12 last year, and investigations have identified a seafood market, which also sold wild animals, in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, as the potential source of the outbreak.