Coronavirus in China may have spread from snakes

A new study revealed that the newly discovered coronavirus in China may spread from snakes to human beings. The first case of coronavirus was first reported in December 2019 from sea food market in China's Wuhan. The wholesale market sells poultry, bats, snakes, and other farm animals.

Wei Ji and colleagues at Peking University in China compared the genomes of five samples of the new virus with 217 similar viruses collected from a range of species. Through their findings, they say that the new virus looks similar to those found in bats, but more like viruses seen in snakes.

It is also reported that the new virus may have formed as a result of infections from both bats and snakes. This can also occur when the two animals are kept in close quarters, which can mostly happen in food markets.

Meanwhile, a Kerala nurse in Saudi Arabia has been infected with the coronavirus. She is a native of Kerala's Kottayam district. She works at Al Hayat National hospital in Abha.

It is reported that the nurse was infected with coronavirus while taking care of a Filipino nurse who contracted the coronavirus.

According to sources, 30 other Kerala nurses are also under observation. They have been admitted to the isolation ward of another hospital.

Apparently, the confirmed cases of coronavirus have climbed up to 571 and 17 deaths have been reported so far from China.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, which cause illnesses to people and also circulates in animals including camels, cats and bats. Animal coronaviruses can also evolve and infect people.

Symptoms:

High fever, breathing difficulty are the symptoms of coronavirus. Detection becomes difficult if the person is suffering from flu or cold.

• Coronavirus
• Peking University
• China
• snakes