Where Did COVID-19 Come From?

With global COVID-19 cases now surpassing three million, tracking the origins of the novel virus is critical. The focus has been largely on containing the spread of the virus and saving lives, though understanding where COVID-19 originated and why is just as important.

The first reports of the coronavirus were delivered to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in late December, with health experts describing pneumonia-like symptoms in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Since then, the coronavirus has claimed more than 210,000 lives, with the US alone reporting over 56,000 fatalities.

The Wuhan seafood market theory

Currently, experts believe COVID-19 originated from a seafood market in Wuhan. As well as selling seafood the market engages in the illegal trade of wild animals, including bats and pangolins. Coronaviruses, which can cause anything from mild cold and flu symptoms to serious viral strains like COVID-19, can jump from animals to humans. Experts believe this is how the COVID-19 disease was contracted by several stallholders at the market.

While nothing has been confirmed, a team of Wuhan virologists recently published a paper suggesting COVID-19 has an almost identical genetic makeup to a similar coronavirus found in bats. Other experts argue that COVID-19 shares up to 92.4% of the same genetic sequences as coronavirus found in pangolins. Also known as scaly anteaters, the mammals are coveted in China for their medicinal qualities. While poaching, trafficking and selling pangolins is illegal, tens of thousands of the animals are killed every year, with the Wuhan seafood market in question a known supplier.  

"If there is one clear message from this global crisis, it's that the sale and consumption of pangolins in [live animal] markets should be strictly prohibited to avoid future pandemics," urges Paul Thomson, cofounder of non-profit conservation group Save Pangolins.

Beyond bats and pangolins

Other theories claim that early cases of COVID-19 claimed the lives of people with no link to the Wuhan seafood market, suggesting animals may not have been involved. There are also claims the virus originated in a laboratory, though there is little evidence supporting this controversial theory.

While the search for a vaccine is currently front of mind, health experts around the world are calling for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Whether this goes ahead and how it will be funded is yet to be determined.

Want the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic? Focusing on the effects the outbreak has had on international trade, 'Export experts talk Corona Virus' offers insight from Jacqueline Balian on behalf of Gambica Trade Association.