December 2019 to a seafood market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.Exactly how the virus passed from its original animal host into humans remains a mystery, however.Viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — have been found in horseshoe bats and pangolins, but previous research suggests that its lineage diverged from theirs several decades ago.Scientists are keen to find out more about the origins of the virus, because it will help them assess the risk of similar viruses emerging that could cause future pandemics.Two key questions are:According to new research by scientists in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, the transition from bats to people was one small step for the virus.Stay informed with.