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Study Links SARS-CoV-2 Origins to Wildlife Trade

5/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study from UC San Diego uncovers that SARS-CoV-2 likely made its leap to humans through wildlife trade, rather than directly from bats. Originating in Western China or Northern Laos, the virus traveled over 2,700 kilometers to Wuhan, echoing the earlier SARS outbreak and highlighting the urgent dangers posed by wildlife commerce.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study from UC San Diego uncovers that SARS-CoV-2 likely made its leap to humans through wildlife trade, rather than directly from bats. Originating in Western China or Northern Laos, the virus traveled over 2,700 kilometers to Wuhan, echoing the earlier SARS outbreak and highlighting the urgent dangers posed by wildlife commerce.