Katana VentraIP

Origin of COVID-19

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been efforts by scientists, governments, and others to determine the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Similar to other outbreaks,[1][2][3] the virus was derived from a bat-borne virus and most likely was transmitted to humans via another animal in nature, or during wildlife trade such as that in food markets.[11] While other explanations, such as speculations that SARS-CoV-2 was accidentally released from a laboratory have been proposed,[12][13][14] such explanations are not supported by evidence.[15] Conspiracy theories about the virus's origin have also proliferated.[16]

SARS-CoV-2 has close genetic similarity to multiple previously identified bat coronaviruses, suggesting it crossed over into humans from bats.[7][17][18][19][20] Research is ongoing as to whether SARS-CoV-2 came directly from bats or indirectly through an intermediate host, such as pangolins,[21] civets,[22] or raccoon dogs.[23][24] Genomic sequence evidence indicates the spillover event introducing SARS-CoV-2 to humans likely occurred in late 2019.[25][26] As with the 2002–2004 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak, efforts to trace the specific geographic and taxonomic origins of SARS-CoV-2 could take years, and results may be inconclusive.[27]


In July 2022, two papers published in Science described novel epidemiological and genetic evidence that suggested the pandemic likely began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and did not come from a laboratory.[28][29][30]

direct zoonotic transmission to humans (spillover), assessed as "possible to likely"

introduction through an intermediate host followed by a spillover, assessed as "likely to very likely"

introduction through the (cold) food chain, assessed as "possible"

introduction through a laboratory incident, assessed as "extremely unlikely"

Assessment on COVID-19 Origins

Proximal Origin

Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens

World Health Organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

"The Sobbing Pangolin: How a threatened animal may be linked to the [Covid-19] pandemic's beginnings", The New Yorker, 31 August 2020, pp. 26–31. "More field research is needed [...]. More sampling of wild animals. More scrutiny of genomes. More cognizance of the fact that animal infections can become human infections because humans are animals. We live in a world of viruses, and we have scarcely begun to understand this one [ COVID-19 ]. (p. 31.)

Quammen, David