Geneva: All available evidence to date suggests that the novel coronavirus has a natural animal origin and was not a manipulated or constructed virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
"Many researchers have been able to look at the genomic features of SARS-CoV-2 and have found that evidence does not support that SARS-CoV-2 is a laboratory construct," said the global health watchdog.
The WHO stressed that if it were a constructed virus, its genomic sequence would show a mix of known elements, but "this is not the case", reports Xinhua news agency.
The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) was identified in early January and its genetic sequence shared publicly on January 11-12, the WHO noted.
According to the world health body, the full genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus from the early human cases and the sequences of many other viruses isolated from human cases from China and all over the world showed that the novel coronavirus has an ecological origin in bat populations.
Although the intermediate animal host has not been identified, the WHO said, all available evidence indicated the novel coronavirus has a zoonotic source.
To better understand the source of the outbreak in China, a number of investigations are currently underway or planned.
AS of Friday morning, the global number of coronavirus cases stood at 2,708,470, with 190,788 deaths.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
India’s Rhetorical Shift: Spanish Model and Muslim Game
Also Read
80 members of Tablighi Jamaat test Corona negative in Hyderabad, return home
Malegaon Police refutes reports of attack, stone pelting
None of 101 arrested in Palghar lynching case is a Muslim: Govt
BJP is spreading 'Communal Virus' instead of fighting Corona Virus: Sonia Gandhi
World Covid-19 deaths top 170,000; US worst hit with 42,000 fatalities
Covid-19 pandemic eases in Iran, situation in Turkey still worrisome
ABVP asks UGC to give up the idea of Online Exams
You are doubting capability of security agencies: Tablighi Jamaat Chief on terror link
Ramadan 2020 moon sighting in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other Arab states today
Eight members of family test Covid-19 positive in Delhi's Civil Lines area
31, including 26 of extended family, test Corona positive in Delhi's Jahangirpuri
Now, MP questions accuracy of Corona cases, deaths in Amravati
Confusion mars Coronavirus cases, deaths in Malegaon
PM Modi talks of 'unity' after backlash in Saudi, Kuwait, UAE over Islamophobic attacks
Hate Muslims, Hate Islam India's Jan-Andolan has Resonance in Gulf Countries
Kanpur Police announces reward on Tablighi Jamaat members
