By now, you’ve probably heard of the novel Coronavirus. Like most viruses, it knows no borders and has spread all over the world. So where did this outbreak begin?
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We know that the COVID-19 outbreak originated in Wuhan, China, but as of yet how the outbreak began is somewhat of a mystery. We’ve heard that seafood, snakes, and a whole host of other conspiracy theories surrounding the viruses origin, but it seems that preliminary evidence is pointing to a familiar source: bats.
And the novel coronavirus is not the only virus that’s been associated with these flying mammals. Ebola, SARS, MERS, Marburg, Nipah—the list goes on.
So why are bats the perfect hosts for these types of viruses, and why aren’t they affected by them? The reason might have to do with how bats evolved to fly.
Find out the answer and more in this Elements.
#coronavirus #covid19 #outbreak #health #science #virus #seeker #elements
Read More:
How Do Bats Live With So Many Viruses?
“If previous outbreaks of coronavirus are any indication, the Wuhan strain that is now spreading may eventually be traced back to bats.”
A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin
“Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) 18 years ago, a large number of SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs) have been discovered in their natural reservoir host, bats.”
Why bats matter
“Bats play an important role in many environments around the world”
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