WHO says novel coronavirus not manipulated or constructed
All available evidence to date suggests that the novel coronavirus, which has caused the ongoing pandemic, has a natural animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a daily situation report on Thursday.
“Many researchers have been able to look at the genomic features of SARS-CoV-2 and have found that evidence does not support that SARS-CoV-2 is a laboratory construct,” said the global health watchdog, stressing that if it were a constructed virus, its genomic sequence would show a mix of known elements, but “this is not the case.”
- Germany authorizes first clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate
- American study finds increased use of alcohol, marijuana during COVID-19 outbreak
The novel coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, was identified in early January and its genetic sequence shared publicly on Jan. 11-12, the WHO noted.
According to the United Nations specialized agency, the full genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus from the early human cases and the sequences of many other viruses isolated from human cases from China and all over the world showed that the novel coronavirus has an ecological origin in bat populations.
Although the intermediate animal host has not been identified, the WHO said, all available evidence indicated the novel coronavirus has a zoonotic source.
To better understand the source of the outbreak in China, a number of investigations are currently underway or planned.
Source: Xinhua – GENEVA
please make a donation here
Hot news
New Hungarian hotel opens in a beautiful forest setting – PHOTOS
Hungarian price of electricity lowest in the EU
Orbán cabinet: We are the ones doing the European Union a favour
From Europe-day celebrations to new exhibitions: here are some of the best programs in Budapest to attend in May
Exports and imports both down in Hungary – official data
Brand new Budapest Airport Hotel is on its way – astonishing VISUALS