Researchers in China say genetic studies have shown that the new coronavirus did not originate at a seafood market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as initially suspected.
The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published on its website the results of joint studies with Chinese university researchers.
The group says it analyzed the genetic data of 93 virus samples from 12 countries.
It says the results showed that the virus found at the market in Wuhan came from elsewhere, and that it spread rapidly from the market.
The researchers say their conclusion that the market was not the source was substantiated by studying the timing when patients fell ill.
The group adds that the virus appears to have spread widely on two occasions — once on December 8 and again on January 6. It says human-to-human transmission could have already begun in early December or even in late November.
The researchers say if a broader and stronger alert had been issued upon the virus’ spread in early January, it could have limited the worldwide spread of infections that began later that month.
