Virologists blame raccoon dog for spreading coronavirus

The start of the coronavirus pandemic may have been linked to the illegal trade in raccoon dogs at a market in Wuhan, China. About it reported in The New York Times, citing a study by virologists.

It is indicated that scientists have found genetic data in a seafood market in Wuhan, which was closed amid an outbreak of the disease, several animals at once. In samples positive for coronavirus, most of all was the genetic material of raccoon dogs.

These animals, as the researchers pointed out, could actually transmit COVID-19 to humans. It is emphasized that the mixing of virus and animal materials does not confirm infection of the raccoon dog itself with the virus, although the analysis showed that the genetic signatures of the animal were in the same place as the material from COVID-19.

“Even if a raccoon dog were infected, it is not clear if the animal transmitted the virus to humans. Another animal could have transmitted the virus to humans, or someone infected with the virus could have passed the virus to the raccoon dog.”– noted in the material.

At the same time, as they write in the publication, new data from virologists confirm the theory that the virus was transmitted to humans from an animal.

Note that the material of The New York Times came out against the backdrop of statements by the US authorities about the laboratory origin of the virus.

So, on February 26, the US Department of Energy called a laboratory leak the cause of COVID-19. Prior to this, the same theory, as “plausible”, was proposed to be considered in the national laboratory of the US government. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning rejected the version of the US Department of Energy and called for an end to discrediting China.

On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed WHO of an outbreak of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Experts have identified the causative agent of the disease – coronavirus. WHO recognized the outbreak as an emergency of international concern, and on March 11, 2020 declared a COVID-19 pandemic.