The recent outbreak of coronavirus in Beijing has been reported to be a
European strain, according to Chinese officials who have released
information about its genome sequence.
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official Zhang
Yong revealed the early research data in an article published by the
country’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
“According to preliminary genomic and epidemiological study results, the
virus is from Europe, but is different from the virus currently
spreading in Europe,” he said.
“It’s older than the virus currently spreading in Europe.”
China has been under pressure to make data on the recent outbreak public
sooner rather than later, following criticism over how it handled the
initial emergence of COVID-19 in the central city of Wuhan late last
year.
The country said it has also submitted its latest results to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The US government has blamed the Chinese regime for not handling the
original coronavirus outbreak properly and moving too slowly to contain
the pandemic.
