A new international study of the origin of COVID-19

A new international study provides a shortlist of the wildlife species present at the market from which SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, most likely arose in late 2019.

The study, published in the journal “Cell,” is based on an analysis of genetic data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data comes from more than 800 samples collected in and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale market in Wuhan, China, beginning on Jan. 1, 2020, and from viral genomes from early COVID-19 patients.

According to the latest analysis of the data, SARS-CoV-2 was present in some of the same stalls where wildlife was sold at the market. That wildlife included raccoon dogs, which are small foxlike animals with markings similar to raccoons, and civet cats, small carnivorous mammals related to mongooses and hyenas.

Dr. Michael Worobey, a researcher at University of Arizona, joined us to discuss.

In some cases, genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and these animals were found on the same swabs. Although there has been an increased focus on lab safety since the pandemic began more than four years ago, Worobey said, “Surprisingly little has been done to decrease the risk of a virus jumping from wildlife into humans again.”