Experts said that Chinese scientists temporarily posted data from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to a worldwide database, providing critical information on the outbreak’s beginnings, including an animal market in Wuhan.
The virus was originally discovered in Wuhan in December 2019, with many blaming the Huanan live animal market. However, it expanded worldwide and killed approximately 7 million people.
After media disclosures last week and a meeting with the World Health Organization, which asked China to share additional data, the scientists produced a pre-print study on Monday based on their interpretation of the data.
The Chinese CDC data found by scientists on GISAID is no longer available.
According to experts who downloaded it, it contained fresh SARS-CoV-2 viral sequences and genetic data from 2020 Wuhan live animal market samples.
They said the sequences suggested that raccoon dogs and other coronavirus-susceptible animals were on the market and may have been infected, offering a fresh clue in the transmission chain that reached people.
“This adds to the body of evidence indicating the Huanan market as the overflow location of Sars-CoV-2 and the center of the COVID-19 epidemic,” the paper added.
Michael Worobey, Kristian Andersen, and Florence Débarre, who obtained the data, wrote it.
The report provides more information about other animals at the market than the leaked information last week and shows that some SARS-CoV-2 positive environmental samples had more animal genetic material than human genetic material, which the researchers said was consistent with the animals being infected.
WHO authorities claimed the material was not definitive this Monday but provided a new lead into COVID’s origins and should have been reported promptly.
The U.N. agency has indicated that all COVID-19 origin theories are on the table, including that the virus originated in a Wuhan high-security pathogen lab.
China rejects the relationship. Most evidence suggests the virus came from animals, mainly bats, according to WHO.
The Chinese CDC did not respond. However, on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin directed Reuters to the “appropriate authorities” when asked why the material appeared online and then removed and if it would be shared.
China has “always supported and engaged in global scientific cooperation on origin tracing” and would continue to do so. Still, the international scientific community needed to share “their findings on the virus coming from other areas of the world with China.”
