Daring Discovery: Wildlife Trade Played Pivotal Role in Spreading COVID-19 to Wuhan
Illicit Wildlife Trade Could've Introduced Coronavirus to Wuhan: Research Findings
Keep it Casual: Sharing some interesting insights...
Get ready to dive into some fascinating research contradicting the idea of a laboratory origin for COVID-19! 🛰️🦠
Genetic analyses point to a terrifying truth: COVID-19 may have spread through the trade of wild animals, similar to the SARS outbreak in 2002/2003, according to a recent study published in the journal "Cell" 📚🦇.
Researchers led by Jonathan Pekar of the San Diego School of Medicine argue that it's highly unlikely the direct ancestors of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 reached humans solely through spread among bats, due to the low mobility of these critters and the age of the viruses. Instead, they believe it's much more likely that infected wildlife traders brought the virus to key locations through intermediate hosts 🐾🧀.
Hints from the Past: SARS-CoV-1 came from traded wildlife
Previously, scientists suggested that SARS-CoV-1 probably reached humans through civet cats and raccoon dogs, which were commonly traded for their fur and meat. These animals, it seems, carried viruses similar to the original SARS coronavirus, even though they were hundreds of miles away from the bat populations 🐾🇨🇳.
Now, the same pattern is being traced back to SARS-CoV-2. As Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona notes, "With SARS-CoV-2, we see exactly the same pattern" 🌱🌐.
Nature's Jigsaw Puzzle: Navigating Recombination
Researchers faced a challenge: with multiple recombinations within bat hosts, tracing the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 was like trying to solve a huge jigsaw with missing pieces 🧩!
To overcome this, the team carefully identified non-recombinant regions of the 250 available genomes and focused only on these areas for their analysis. They found that SARS-CoV-like viruses have been circulating in western China and Southeast Asia for thousands of years.
So there you have it—the pieces are coming together, suggesting that both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 might share a similar natural origin with intermediate animal hosts playing a crucial role 🌱🐾.
BUT...🙅♀️ Researchers cautiously note that there might be regional gaps in the collected samples, casting a slight shadow on their conclusions. Even with more samples, it's unlikely we'll find the exact bat ancestor of the two viruses.
This dashing discovery supports the essential principle that reducing human-animal interactions, particularly through the wildlife trade, is vital for preventing future pandemics 🛑🐾.
The European Union, with a focus on science, medical-conditions, and technology, has initiated several initiatives to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. Meanwhile, in the realm of general-news, a recent study published in the journal "Cell" suggests that COVID-19 might have spread through the trade of wild animals, much like SARS in 2002/2003. Financial resources should be invested in understanding environmental science and its impact on such medical-conditions, as the results could prevent future pandemics related to wildlife trade.
