The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 might have been quietly spreading among humans for years or even decades before the sudden outbreak that sparked a global health crisis, according to an investigation by some of the world’s top virus hunters.
The study, conducted by Kristian Andersen from the Scripps Research Institute in California, Andrew Rambaut from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Ian Lipkin from Columbia University in New York, Edward Holmes from the University of Sydney, and Robert Garry from Tulane University in New Orleans, was published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine on March 17.
In December, doctors in Wuhan began noticing a surge in the number of people suffering from a mysterious pneumonia. Tests for flu and other pathogens returned negative. An unknown strain was isolated, and a team from the Wuhan Institute of Virology led by Shi Zhengli traced its origin to a bat virus found in a mountain cave close to the China-Myanmar border.
But the new strain, or SARS-Cov-2, had a mutation in its genes known as a polybasic cleavage site that was unseen in any coronaviruses found in bats or pangolins, according to Andersen and his colleagues. It is possible that the mutation happened naturally to the virus on animal hosts. Sars and Mers , for instance, were believed to have been direct descendants of species found in masked civets and camels, which had a 99 per cent genetic similarity.
“Once acquired, these adaptations would enable the pandemic to take off and produce a sufficiently large cluster of cases to trigger the surveillance system that detected it.”
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Coronavirus: Workplace distancing more effective than school closures, says studyWorkplace distancing is far more effective in reducing the spread of Covid-19 than school closures, said a team of experts.. Read more at straitstimes.com. NYCMayor NYGovCuomo andrewcuomo BilldeBlasio please have your teams follow leehsienloong PM of Singapore which has done an amazing job responding to and communicating about COVID-19 — their experience from SARS is critical Very true. Adults are the ones likely to bring it home. Their lack of effort to social distance themselves is endangering the kids at home. Wayang at its best. But take bus and mrt jammed packed
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
'Just one case': Fears coronavirus may spread like wildfire in world's refugee campsIn the world’s largest refugee settlement in Bangladesh, filmmaker Mohammed Arafat has been making public safety videos to warn about the dangers ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Coronavirus: US Pentagon eyes Chicago, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana as bug spreadsWASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The US military is watching coronavirus infection trends in Chicago, Michigan, Florida and Louisiana with concern as it weighs where else it may have deploy, after boosting aid to New York, California and Washington, a top general said on Friday (March 27).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 - Latest news | CNAAs the novel coronavirus COVID-19 originating from Wuhan spreads in China and beyond, get the latest updates and developments on CNA The kids ... I hope they only have mild symptoms. They must feel terrible to be isolated If I’m not wrong, youngest case is a 2 years old little girl? Dont worry about kids , Covid19 not good enough to penetrate them totally , trust me within 3 days , they will recover . Trust KKH nurses , the are the best in the world to take care of kids
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Fears of domestic violence rise as millions in Europe confined over virusBERLIN: With families across Europe confined to their homes to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, fears are rising of a surge in domestic ... Just Europe? Coming January there be also more babies born , maybe LOL
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Basketball: Gobert, all NBA Jazz players and staff clear of coronavirusRudy Gobert, the first NBA player to test positive for coronavirus, and all Utah Jazz players and staff have been cleared of coronavirus by the ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »