The article explains that the novel coronavirus, nCoV-2019, while seemingly new, shares striking similarities with bat coronaviruses previously discovered in Yunnan province, China. The rapid spread of the virus, while alarming, isn't entirely unexpected given previous research and warnings from scientists.
Scientists, including Zheng-Li Shi from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, have been studying bat coronaviruses for years, having previously identified the SARS virus's origin in bats. Their research highlighted the potential for these viruses to cause pandemics, with a 2017 paper identifying a coronavirus in horseshoe bats with a 96% genetic similarity to nCoV-2019.
The article argues that the emergence of the virus from a non-human animal, likely a bat, and its subsequent spread to humans, is not surprising to those who study zoonotic diseases. The rapid spread of nCoV-2019 underscores the importance of continued research and preparedness for future outbreaks.