New Delhi, November 20, 2018 : .A study in Science claims that the first known case of Covid-19 — also called ‘patient zero’ — was a female vendor selling seafood at an animal marketplace in Wuhan.
She became symptomatic in December 11.This peer-reviewed study refutes previous reports that the first Covid victim was an accountant aged 41 who lived 30 kilometers south of Huanan Market and reported his condition on December 8.
Interviewed, however, the accountant stated that Covid symptoms began with a fever in December 16, and that the illness of December 8 was due to a problem with his baby teeth, which he had retained until adulthood.
This indicates that the virus spread from Huanan market to him through community transmission.
According to Michael Worobey (University of Arizona evolutionary virusologist), he believed he was infected at a hospital, possibly during his emergency dental procedure, or while commuting on the subway.
Shortly before his symptoms started, the accountant also traveled north from Huanan Market.
After multiple illnesses in Huanan Market workers, his symptom onset occurred.A female vendor selling seafood was the first known victim.The illness began December 11.
Worobey stated that she had “notably” reported knowing of possible Covid-19 patients in hospitals and clinics near Huanan Market starting December 11.Huanan Market residents were admitted to Union Hospital at the beginning of December 10.
Now it is clear that coronavirus-resistant live mammals, such as raccoon dogs, were being sold in Wuhan’s Huanan Market before the outbreak.
The SARS epidemic was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses in raccoon dog fetuses.This contact occurred in China’s live animal markets.
Michael Worobey from the University of Arizona, an evolutionary virologist who specializes in viral outbreaks, said that “but, due to the early focus on Huanan Market by the public health authorities, it is unclear whether the preponderance of Covid-19 patients hospitalised associated with this market really reflects the original epidemic.”
Live-animal sales of infected animals continued for months after SARS.This allowed zoonotic spillover as to be identified as the source and multiple jumps between animals and humans.
The study stated that “Unfortunately no living mammal from Huanan Market, or other Wuhan live-animal markets, has been tested for SARS-CoV-2 viruses.Huanan Market closed on January 1, 2020 and was disinfected.”
The study found that the most symptomatic early cases of the pandemic were connected to Huanan market, specifically the section in the west where the raccoon dog were kept.This is strong evidence for a live animal market source.
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