Deadly Chinese Wuhan Virus Speculated to Have Come From Bat Soup

• Protein codes found in the virus are just like the ones found in snakes, which hunt for bats in the wild.
• Bat soup is a common delicacy in Wuhan.
• Bats were confirmed to be the source of the SARS virus.

The coronavirus from China has now caused the world panic. It has already reached as far as the United States. Now new findings revealed that the disease could have come from the wild animals being sold in markets in Wuhan, the ground zero of the coronavirus.

Researchers discovered that the protein codes found in the virus are just like the ones found in snakes. Now the snakes are known to hunt for bats in the wild, which could have infected the former.

A market in Wuhan reportedly sells wildlife illegally and the meat is used in local cuisine.

According to Gao Fu, the director general of China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the latest virus is 70% similar to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus.

The coronavirurs can be transmittted from animals to humans. This further solidifies the speculation of scientists that the bats are the new source of the virus. In 2003, scientists have confirmed that bats were the source of the SARS virus.

Bat soup is one of the delicacies in Wuhan. Photos of residents eating bat soup have emerged online.

The Chinese government has urged people to stop eating bats and other wild animals, but it still didn’t stop citizens from doing so.

Reports say that at least 500 bats are needed to produce two portions of the soup. Bats have very little meat, hence the need for quantity. There are even some people who buy 2000 bats for the purpose of eating it.

At present, there are more than 500 cases of the virus confirmed and 17 people have already died.

Travel bans have now been issued from Wuhan and two other cities in China.

The rest of the world are already on alert for potential carriers coming in their airports.