No, Coronavirus Was Not Caused by 'Bat Soup'–But Here's What Researchers Think May Be to Blame
Bats in general aren't entirely blameless, though...
When news of any new, fast-spreading virus starts making the rounds, two things happen: public panic ensues and misinformation starts to proliferate—and the new coronavirus has sparked both.
In December 2019, anoutbreak of a novel coronavirus—now known as SAR-CoV-2 (initially named 2019-nCoV)—was detected in Wuhan, a city in Central China's Hubei province. Since then, more than 9.6 million people worldwide have developed the infection, and at least 490,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University's real-time tracker, which maps confirmed cases of the illness we now know as COVID-19. The US accounts for more than 2.4 million of those cases and nearly 125,000 deaths.
While health officials across the world—and, honestly, the entire world in general—try to figure out what exactly the new coronavirus is (Where did it start? How is it transmitted? What's making it so infectious?), one thing in particular is certainlynothelping anyone: Claims that it somehow originated with one woman eating something people are referring to as "bat soup." (Seriously—the searches for "bat soup" in Google Trends truly skyrocketed).
Where exactly did the "bat soup" claim come from?
According toForeign Policy, a video recently surfaced of a Chinese woman holding an entire bat with chopsticks, appearing to eat the creature in a soup. TheDaily Mailalso reported on the video, andYouTube channel RT shared the footage. The clip was reportedly met with outrage from Twitter users, who quickly began calling out Chinese eating habits as the cause of the outbreak.
But here's the thing, perForeign Policy:据报道,视频问题不是拍摄in Wuhan or China in general—the woman in the video, who news outlets have identified as Wang Mengyun, is a host of an online travel show who was actually eating a dish in Palau, an island country located in the western Pacific ocean. The video was also reportedly filmed in 2016—well before the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. Mengyun has also reportedly apologized for the footage. "I am sorry everyone. I should not have eaten a bat," she said, according to theSouth China Morning Post. “[I] had no idea during filming that there was such a virus,” she continued. “I realized it only recently.”
So where did coronavirus originate—and is it linked to bats at all?
This is where it gets tricky: Coronaviruses in general are a large family of viruses that can affect many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, and bats, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). In rare cases, those viruses are also zoonotic, which means they can pass between humans and animals—as was the case with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory system (SARS), two severe coronaviruses in people.
Initially, this新型冠状病毒was believed to have started in a large seafood or wet market, suggesting animal-to-person spread, according to the CDC. But a large number of people diagnosed with the virus reportedly didn't have exposure to the wet markets, and now it's clear that the virus is primarily spreading person-to-person, says the CDC.
Is it possible that the novel coronavirus began with an infected animal at the market—and then went on to person-to-person transmission once people were infected? While experts still haven't pinpointed the actual source, new research released online by the CDC on April 21 concludes that SARS-CoV-2 "is probably a novel recombinant virus"—one that has features closely related to coronaviruses found in bats and pangolins (scaly-skinned mammals).
However, none of the existing coronaviruses represents its immediate ancestor, notes Susanna K. P. Lau, MBBS, MD, head of microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, and colleagues, who analyzed the genome of the novel coronavirus.
"Although the Wuhan market was initially suspected to be the epicenter of the epidemic, the immediate source remains elusive," Dr. Lau and colleagues write. If the Wuhan market were the source, it's possible, they say, that bats carrying the bat coronavirus were mixed in the market, enabling a new combination virus to develop. "However, no animal samples from the market were reported to be positive," the team points out. What's more, neither the first identified case in a human nor other early patients had visited the market, "suggesting the possibility of an alternative source."
Dr. Lau and colleagues' study, released ahead of publication in the CDC journalEmerging Infectious Diseases, also throws cold water on an Internet rumor that the virus may have been created in a lab: "there is currently no evidence showing that SARS-CoV-2 is an artificial recombinant."
Another recent paper inNature Medicineunderscores that point. “By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 originated through natural processes,”Kristian Andersen, PhD, an associate professor of immunology and microbiology atScripps Researchand corresponding author on the paper, said in a statement. Andersen and colleagues' research implicates bats and possibly pangolins.
Overall, the origin of the novel coronavirus is still filled withwhat-ifsandmaybes, but even if bats are partly to blame, the likelihood that "bat soup" played a role is just an extremely misinformed (and potentially xenophobic) rumor.
The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using theCDC,谁, and their local public health department as resources.
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" }, { "answer_choices": [ { "answer_title": "Wear a mask", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A1", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 7595, "lastModified": "2021-12-10T23:58:26.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "Wash your hands", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A2", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 42420, "lastModified": "2021-12-10T21:46:13.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "Maintain social distance from others", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A3", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 6647, "lastModified": "2021-12-09T18:43:22.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "Wipe down groceries packaged in cardboard or plastic wrap with bleach", "correct_answer": true, "answer_id": "A4", "answer_value": 1, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 67008, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:21:05.000Z" } } ], "answer_type": "text", "question_title": "To slow the spread of COVID-19, don't do this:", "question_id": "Q3", "answer_description": "CDC specifically warns against using disinfecting products on food or food packaging. You don't want to accidentally taint your food. Plus, the risk of COVID-19 from handling or consuming food is thought to be low. Use disinfectants like bleach to wipe down tables, countertops, and faucets
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" }, { "answer_choices": [ { "answer_title": "2 to 12 hours", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A1", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 5822, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T14:02:06.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "3 days", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A2", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 28040, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:08:48.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "14 days", "correct_answer": true, "answer_id": "A3", "answer_value": 1, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 88931, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:21:05.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "30 days", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A4", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 876, "lastModified": "2021-12-08T15:50:40.000Z" } } ], "answer_type": "text", "question_title": "How long is the incubation period—the amount time from when you are infected with the novel coronavirus to when you exhibit symptoms?", "question_id": "Q6", "answer_description": "The incubation is thought to be 14 days, with a median of 4 to 5 days. (But keep in mind that some people never develop symptoms).
" }, { "answer_choices": [ { "answer_title": "A variant", "correct_answer": true, "answer_id": "A1", "answer_value": 1, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 84882, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:21:05.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "A high viral load", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A2", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 9580, "lastModified": "2021-12-09T14:54:31.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "A vaccine", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A3", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 11492, "lastModified": "2021-12-08T15:50:40.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "Another virus, like influenza", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A4", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 17716, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T01:12:25.000Z" } } ], "answer_type": "text", "question_title": "A mutated version of the virus that causes COVID-19 is called:", "question_id": "Q7", "answer_description": "Variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been identified in the US and around the world. Scientists are studying these variants to learn how they spread and whether current vaccines will protect against them.
" }, { "answer_choices": [ { "answer_title": "Researchers have coined the term \"coronaphobia\" to describe the fear of contracting COVID-19", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A1", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 10653, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T14:02:06.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "The virus that causes COVID-19 can sometimes spread through tiny airborne particles", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A2", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 14987, "lastModified": "2021-12-10T22:05:18.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "The term \"long-haulers\" refers to people who experience long-term coronavirus symptoms", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A3", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 6600, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T12:19:16.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "COVID-19 is just like having the seasonal flu", "correct_answer": true, "answer_id": "A4", "answer_value": 1, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 91431, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:21:05.000Z" } } ], "answer_type": "text", "question_title": "Which of the following statements is false?", "question_id": "Q8", "answer_description": "Early on, some people speculated that the novel coronavirus would behave like the seasonal flu. Now we know COVID-19 is much more contagious and spreads more rapidly than influenza.
" }, { "answer_choices": [ { "answer_title": "Women who want to become pregnant some day", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A1", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 11395, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T11:54:50.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any vaccine ingredient", "correct_answer": true, "answer_id": "A2", "answer_value": 1, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 69563, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:21:05.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "People who have recovered from COVID-19", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A3", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 10185, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:08:48.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "People with underlying medical conditions", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A4", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 32527, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T14:18:10.000Z" } } ], "answer_type": "text", "question_title": "Who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine?", "question_id": "Q9", "answer_description": "CDC does not recommend COVID vaccination if you've had a severe allergic reaction to any COVID vaccine ingredient. Contact your doctor if you have questions about whether it's safe for you to be vaccinated.
" }, { "answer_choices": [ { "answer_title": "You can't get COVID-19 from a COVID-19 shot", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A1", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 20520, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T16:43:23.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "Side effects are generally mild and short-lived", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A2", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 8197, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T16:50:10.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "It can take a few weeks after getting vaccinated for your body to build immunity to the virus", "correct_answer": false, "answer_id": "A3", "answer_value": 0, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 4831, "lastModified": "2021-12-10T21:32:40.000Z" } }, { "answer_title": "None of the above", "correct_answer": true, "answer_id": "A4", "answer_value": 1, "$vf_selected_count": { "value": 90122, "lastModified": "2021-12-11T17:21:05.000Z" } } ], "answer_type": "text", "question_title": "Which of the following statements about COVID-19 are false?", "question_id": "Q10", "answer_description": "Vaccination is safe, effective, and an important tool for beating the pandemic.
" } ], "description": "News about the novel coronavirus is breaking nearly 24-7, which makes it challenging at best to keep up with the latest scientific evidence, especially when you're bombarded by false or misleading claims on social media. So how much do you really know about COVID-19? Take our quiz to gauge how knowledgeable you are.
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\nMore on COVID-19:
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\nWhile Health is trying to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.
", "result_title": "Not Much." }, { "result_starting_range": 4, "button": { "_type": "button", "title": "Learn Some More", "src": "https://x.specialoffers.meredith.com/ats/show.aspx?cr=588&fm=201®source=20571" }, "result_ending_range": 6, "result_description": "Not bad, but there’s much more to know about this illness. Subscribe to our daily Healthy Living newsletter and never miss an update.
\nMore on COVID-19:
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\nWhile Health is trying to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.
", "result_title": "You Know Some Things About Some Things." }, { "result_starting_range": 7, "button": { "_type": "button", "title": "Stay Updated with Newsletters", "src": "https://x.specialoffers.meredith.com/ats/show.aspx?cr=588&fm=201®source=20571" }, "result_ending_range": 8, "result_description": "Terrific. Keep reading about COIVD-19 on Health.com and stay safe!
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\nWhile Health is trying to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.
", "result_title": "You Are Certified to Debate on Social Media." }, { "result_starting_range": 9, "button": { "_type": "button", "title": "Sign Up for Newsletters", "src": "https://x.specialoffers.meredith.com/ats/show.aspx?cr=588&fm=201®source=20571" }, "result_ending_range": 10, "result_description": "You are definitely in the know! Keep coming back to Health.com for the latest information.
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\nLiving Through a Pandemic: A Guide to Surviving the New Normal
\nCoronavirus 101: Symptoms, Transmission, Severity and More
\nWhile Health is trying to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.
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