As the number of coronavirus-related deaths continues to climb, particularly in Wuhan (China), where the virus came from, the scientific world is beginning to get initial answers as to its nature and origin.
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A genetic study, published in the journal of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has hypothesized that the virus could have originated in the bat. “The new virus is very similar to a viral strain found in bats. The bird would thus be ‘the reservoir’ of the virus, but that does not mean that it would have transmitted it directly to humans”, specifies the AFP.
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A strange soup
Although partial, this information was enough to react strongly to internet users around the world, including in France. On Twitter, Instagram and even Facebook, many have even suggested a link between the spread of the virus among men and certain alleged eating habits of residents of Wuhan City implying … bats served in soup.
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Bat soup in China. Then we are surprised for the nCOV. The bat also transmits rabies. China should reform its culinary habits. pic.twitter.com/N0d3ymYXBy
– Restitutor Orientis (@RestitutorOrien) January 22, 2020
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Most of these videos and photos are from the Chinese social network Weibo, where users believe that the famous bat soup may be the cause of the virus’s spread. Claims that have not yet been scientifically substantiated, but which in many ways recall the SARS epidemic in 2002, which came from wild civets.
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“Difficult, however, to formally incriminate this soup, however repulsive this dish may appear, since there is no evidence that the mammal transmitted the virus directly to humans”, however warns The Parisian. Especially since the dish, presented on social networks as traditional and widely consumed, because of its alleged medicinal properties, would not be if popular than that in Wuhan. On Twitter, a resident strongly refuted this urban legend.
“Don’t post fake news,” she said. “We in Wuhan have never heard of this soup. We are just as disgusted as you with this video.”
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Another animal?
While the animal track now seems to be at the heart of research, another animal is also suspected. An article published in the Journal of Medical Virology recently argued that the snake may also have served as an intermediary between the bird and the human.
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Rats, crocodiles, foxes and even camel meat … The Huanan market, located in the heart of Wuhan city, is today considered the main epicenter of the coronavirus. A market where illegal sales of wild and frozen animals took place, including … bats.
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