The virus has killed millions since it emerged in China in late 2019, and controversy continues to swirl around where it came from.
Of the viruses they identified among the hundreds of bats tested in Vientiane Province, three were found to closely resemble the virus that causes Covid-19, particularly in the mechanism for latching on to human cells.
But he said the work was"a major step forward" in identifying the pandemic's origin, confirming the theory that the coronavirus that has spread across the world could have started with living bats. A competing hypothesis that the virus leaked from a lab like the specialised virology laboratory in Wuhan was deemed"extremely unlikely", although it has yet to be ruled out.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Investec ups earnings forecast as it recovers from Covid-19The specialist bank and wealth manager says its first-half earnings for 2022 are in line with pre-pandemic levels, citing new focus and resilience
Read more »
200,000 people vaccinated in mining industry, as Covid-19 pushback continuesMinerals Council SA says it has reached a milestone of 200,000 employees and service providers vaccinated against Covid-19.
Read more »
Growing opposition over UCT proposal for mandatory Covid-19 vaccinationsA petition against UCT introducing mandatory vaccinations is growing in signatures after its Senate voted in favour of a proposal to make vaccination mandatory from next year.
Read more »
Uganda’s president to fire officials who let Covid-19 vaccines expire unusedUganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has called for Covid-19 vaccination efforts to be ramped up while threatening officials with dismissal should vaccines be left to expire.
Read more »
My colleague tested positive for Covid-19, what should I do?The National Institute for Communicable Diseases advises that you self-quarantine if you are exposed at work to someone who has Covid-19.
Read more »