"Wuhan Pneumonia Originates from 'Bats' Like SARS... Highly Contagious"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Research has found that the Chinese "Wuhan pneumonia" originated from bats like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and is highly contagious.

On the 22nd, Gao Fu, director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, announced research results showing that the novel coronavirus causing Wuhan pneumonia has a very high similarity to SARS, according to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others.

Earlier, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency also revealed that the genetic sequence analysis of the novel coronavirus released by China showed a high homology (degree of genetic similarity) with the SARS virus.

The Chinese research team considered that the novel coronavirus and the SARS virus share a common ancestor in the "HKU9-1 virus," which is found in fruit bats.

The research team suggested that the novel coronavirus spread through wild animals sold at the seafood market in Wuhan and pointed out the problem that this coronavirus continues to adapt and mutate.

Reports have emerged that various wild animals such as snakes, rabbits, and pheasants are slaughtered and sold at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, known as the epicenter of Wuhan pneumonia. The research team stated, "The original host of the novel coronavirus may be bats, and there may be unknown intermediaries between bats and humans." It is known that SARS was transmitted to humans after a mutated virus from bats was transferred to civet cats.

According to the research, the novel coronavirus targets a protein called "ACT3," similar to SARS. Scientists believe that although structurally different from SARS, the novel coronavirus also has a strong binding affinity, which may result in very high infectivity.