The researchers have once again gone through the material collected from the animal market in Wuhan, China during the pandemic. They now conclude with even greater certainty that the sars-cov-2 virus actually spread from the market and that it can only have been a handful of animal species that could have transmitted the virus to humans – probably only two.
Most researchers agree that the origin of the virus is bats, but that another animal is needed to transmit it to humans.
The study, published in the journal Cell, specifically mentions two: ferret badger and Asian palm civet. The ferret badger is mainly found in Asia but also as an invasive species in parts of Europe and in Sweden, the Asian palm civet is found in Southeast Asia. Both can carry sars-cov-2.
An additional three animal species are mentioned as possible, but less likely, host animals: short-tailed hedgehog, the rat Rhizomys pruinosus, and the hedgehog Erinaceus amurensis.
The lack of evidence regarding the host animal has previously led to speculation that the virus was actually spread, by accident or intentionally, from Wuhan's virological institute.
