NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Joe Biden
    United States of America
    COVID-19
    Russia-Ukraine crisis
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / World News / COVID-19 emerged in China around October 2019, not December: Study
    World

    COVID-19 emerged in China around October 2019, not December: Study

    COVID-19 emerged in China around October 2019, not December: Study
    Written by Ramya Patelkhana
    Jun 25, 2021, 02:44 pm 3 min read
    COVID-19 emerged in China around October 2019, not December: Study
    Credits
    New study suggests first COVID-19 case emerged in China in October 2019

    Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out across the globe, scientists have been trying to find the origins of SARS-CoV-2—the novel coronavirus that causes the deadly disease—to understand when and where the spread actually began. While the first official case had been recorded in China in December 2019, a new study suggests that it could have emerged there way earlier than estimated. Here's more.

    SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China in early October to mid-November: Study

    Using methods from conservation science, researchers from the United Kingdom's University of Kent estimate the spread of the novel coronavirus in China could've begun as early as October 2019—two months before Wuhan registered the first official case. "Results infer that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China in early October to mid-November, and by January, had spread globally," said the study published in the PLOS Pathogens journal.

    Likely timing of first case in China is November 17

    The new study puts the most likely date for the emergence of the virus in China based on its model as November 17, 2019, before it spread globally by January 2020. China's first known case was linked to Wuhan's Huanan seafood market, but the study suggests the virus was circulating even before reaching this market as some early cases showed no connection with Huanan.

    Sporadic human infections before Wuhan outbreak possible: WHO, China

    To recall, a joint study by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese researchers on the origin of COVID-19, published recently in March, also acknowledges that sporadic infections in human beings could have been caused much before the Wuhan outbreak. Based on molecular evidence, this study estimated the range of the origin of the virus could be between late-September and early-December, reported Forbes.

    China deleted early COVID-19 data from international database

    Interestingly, the latest study by UK researchers comes after a scientific paper revealed on Wednesday that sequencing data of cases from the early months of the pandemic in China was deleted from a shared international database used for tracking the virus's evolution. It was authored by Jesse Bloom—a virologist and an evolutionary biologist at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center—who recovered the deleted data.

    Early samples a 'gold mine' to understand virus's spread: Bloom

    In his report, Bloom stated early samples were a "gold mine for anyone seeking to understand the spread of the virus." "The fact that such an informative data set was deleted has implications beyond those gleaned directly from the recovered sequences. There is no plausible scientific reason for the deletion...It, therefore, seems likely the sequences were deleted to obscure their existence," he added.

    Another attempt by China to cover up virus's origins: Critics

    Meanwhile, several critics said that China deleting the crucial data related to early COVID-19 cases is another attempt by the country to cover up the virus's origins. "Why would scientists ask international databases to delete key data that informs us about how COVID-19 began in Wuhan? That's the question you can answer for yourselves," tweeted Alina Chan, a researcher with Harvard's Broad Institute.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    Wuhan
    Coronavirus
    COVID-19
    China

    Latest

    Domestic lenders are safe from Adani Group's fall: RBI, Moody's Adani Group
    Abu Dhabi Open 2023, Belinda Bencic reaches quarters: Key stats Belinda Bencic
    Zimbabwe hold West Indies in first Test: Key stats Zimbabwe Cricket Team
    Google's 'Live from Paris' AI event falls short of expectations Google

    Wuhan

    COVID man-made, leaked: US-based scientist who worked at Wuhan lab China
    Anti-lockdown protests intensify across China as demonstrators, police clash China
    China records highest daily COVID-19 cases since pandemic began China
    New Omicron sub-variants can trigger new COVID-19 wave: Study Pfizer

    Coronavirus

    COVID-19 outbreak has infected 80% of Chinese population China
    COVID-19: WHO urges travelers to mask up amid XBB.1.5 spread World Health Organization
    China: Hospitals cancel New Year holidays to meet patients' requirements China
    #NewsBytesExplainer: What's XBB.1.5, COVID-19 sub-variant triggering cases spike in US  COVID-19

    COVID-19

    Zoom fires 1,300 employees due to "uncertainty of global economy" Zoom
    US reduces visa backlog; appointments for Indians at overseas embassies H-1B Visa
    Kerala: Man gets 3 life-terms for raping, impregnating minor daughter Kerala
    Amid global slowdown predictions, IMF calls India 'bright spot' International Monetary Fund

    China

    Chinese 'spy' balloons targeted numerous countries, including India: Report United States of America
    US declines to return suspected 'spy' balloon debris to China United States of America
    After US, Colombia spots 'balloon-like' object in its airspace Colombia
    Centre initiates process to ban over 230 Chinese apps: Report Central Government

    Love World News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    World Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023