(VOVWORLD) - A new study by Chinese researchers indicates the novel coronavirus may have begun human-to-human transmission in late November from a place other than the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan city.
 The Huanan seafood market in China's Wuhan city where the new coronavirus is thought to have originated from. (Photo: CCTC) |
The study published on a Chinese open repository for scientific researchers, reveals the new virus was introduced to the seafood market from another location, and then spread rapidly from market to market. The findings were the result of analyses of genome-wide data, sources of infection and the route of spread of 93 samples of the virus collected from 12 countries across four continents.
According to the researchers, the new coronavirus experienced two sudden population expansions, including one on January 6, 2020, which was related to the lunar New Year holiday. An earlier expansion occurred on December 8, 2019, implying human-to-human transmission may have started in early December or late November, and then accelerated when it reached the Huanan seafood market. However, based upon limited samples in other countries, the source of most infections is deemed to be the same.