The transmission of a novel coronavirus from animals to humans has been decoded.

There is insufficient evidence at the current time to verify whether the COVID-19 virus mutated and transmitted from animals to humans.

There is insufficient evidence at the current time to verify whether the COVID-19 virus mutated and transmitted from animals to humans.Researchers conducted a genetic analysis of the novel coronavirus and its similar variants in animals and confirmed that its closest relative is a coronavirus that infects bats. It shares about 96.3% of genetic similarity with the coronavirus sampled from a bat.

A study found evolutionary evidence for the occurrence of a SARS-CoV-2-like Pangolin coronavirus, which is the most closely related virus to SARS-CoV-2, in a dead Malayan pangolin. The pangolin coronavirus is 91.02% identical to SARS-CoV-2 and 90.55% identical to the bat coronavirus at a complete structural level.

However, there is no credible evidence to prove that the novel coronavirus transmitted from animals to humans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.