WHO China Report: 'Lab Leak Unlikely Source Of Covid'

<p><strong>New Delhi:&nbsp;</strong>In a draft of the joint WHO-China study on the origins of COVID-19 said that the transmission of the virus from bats to humans through another animal is the most likely scenario. The study also said that a lab leak is &ldquo;extremely unlikely".</p> <p>According to Associated Press which received the draft of the study on Monday from a Geneva-based diplomat from a WHO-member country. While it is still likely that the report might still be changed prior to its release.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://ift.tt/2O1BKR8 style="color: #f80707;">WATCH | Giant Cargo Ship 'Ever Given' Stuck For 6 Days Freed By Egyptian Crew, Refloats Into Suez Canal</span></a><br /></strong></p> <p>The researchers listed four scenarios, the first likely case is transmission through a second animal, which they said was likely to very likely. Accoridng to the AP report, they evaluated direct spread from bats to humans as likely, and said that spread through &ldquo;cold-chain&rdquo; food products was possible but not likely. Bats are known to coronaviruses, and the closest relative of the virus that causes COVID-19 was found in the mammals. The AP report, further quoted the study saying &ldquo;the evolutionary distance between these bat viruses and SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be several decades, suggesting a missing link.&rdquo;</p> <p>Along with Pangolins, cats and minks can also carry the virus.&nbsp;</p> <p>The study is largely based on the findings of the WHO team of international experts to Wuhan, the Chinese city where COVID-19 was first detected, from mid-January to mid-February this year.&nbsp;</p> <p class="Component-root-0-2-62 Component-p-0-2-53">According to AP, Peter Ben Embarek who led the study said Friday that the report was being fact checked and translated. He was quoted as saying &ldquo;I expect that in the next few days, that whole process will be completed and we will be able to release it publicly.&rdquo;</p> <p class="Component-root-0-2-62 Component-p-0-2-53">The report is quoted by AP, &ldquo;No firm conclusion therefore about the role of the Huanan market in the origin of the outbreak, or how the infection was introduced into the market, can currently be drawn.&rdquo;</p> <p class="Component-root-0-2-62 Component-p-0-2-53">Discovery of cases from before the Hunan outbreak suggests that the origin may have started elsewhere and that there could have been milder cases that went undetected which could be a link between the market and earlier cases.</p> <p class="Component-root-0-2-62 Component-p-0-2-53">&ldquo;While there is some evidence for possible reintroduction of SARS-CoV-2 through handling of imported contaminated frozen products in China since the initial pandemic wave, this would be extraordinary in 2019 where the virus was not widely circulating,&rdquo; the study said. Experts are skeptical cold chains could have triggered the outbreak and that say the risk is lower than through human-to-human respiratory infection.&nbsp;</p>

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