Chinese scientists have discovered that the endangered pangolin could be a link in the spread of the novel coronavirus in China.
Latest statistics showed that at least 37,000 people have been infected by the new strain of the coronavirus.
South China Agricultural University researchers have identified the pangolins as a “potential intermediate host”.
The new virus, which emerged at a live animal market in central China’s Wuhan city late last year, is believed to have originated in bats, but researchers said that there could be an intermediate host.
After testing over 1,000 samples, scientists found the same genome sequences of viruses on pangolins and 99 percent identical to 2019-nCoV patients according to Xinhua News Agency.
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The pangolin trade continues to exist despite criticisms from animal rights groups.
Over 1 million pangolins have been caught from Asian and African forests in the last ten years.
China and Vietnam were the destination markets for the endangered animal.
China ordered a temporary ban on the trade in wild animals until the epidemic is under control last month.
The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2002 and 2003 was traced to wild animals transmitting to humans through civet.
