Scientific American: Snakes Could Be the Original Source of the New Coronavirus Outbreak in China

The main trigger of the deadly respiratory illness (Coronavirus) in China is said to have originated from snakes, more specifically, the Chinese cobra and the Chinese krait. This type of virus is transmitted primarily through the air and primarily affects the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of mammals and birds. Researchers who studied the genetic code of the virus revealed that the virus in the infected people had many similarities to the snake SARS-like coronavirus. Reports state that the first people who were infected by this virus and hospitalized worked at or shopped at a local seafood wholesale market, which also processed snakes. Though DNA sampling is required to confirm the origin of the virus, said seafood market has been shut down and disinfected to prevent further contamination. For the full article, click here.