Hypothesis: Live, dead and autopsied mammals in Wuhan markets and warehouses were tested for SARS-CoV-2

The WHO-China joint study on the origins of SARS-CoV-2 posted March 30, 2021, claimed that, in the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market, “no evidence of the sale of live mammals was found in our visit — e.g., cages of the type used to house mammals like racoons …” (page 98 of the main report and page 122 of annex D4).  

In striking contrast, it is now known that live mammals were in fact present in this market and others in Wuhan from May 2017 to November 2019 (Xiao et al., June 2021, Scientific Reports).  Moreover, on March 18, earlier this month, molecular evidence of multiple mammals (including racoon dogs and bamboo rats among several others) being present in early 2020 in this Huanan market was highlighted in a statement by WHO’s Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens.

Therefore, the self-evident question is whether these mammals were tested while alive and/or soon after death before being frozen or destroyed. Doing so would have been expected given China’s experience with the zoonotic origin of SARS in 2003, their focus since 2004 on rapid identification of any new SARS-like disease or other “viral pneumonia of unknown etiology,” and their own national interest.

Opportunity for retrospective testing of live mammals in markets, 2018-2019

The study by Xiao et al. documenting quantitatively from May 2017 to November 2019 the monthly average number of 18 mammal species, including racoon dogs, masked palm civets, bamboo rats, mink and more in the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market and three other Wuhan markets quite likely includes frozen specimens from these mammals. The reason is that such specimens, whether blood (serum), feces, urine, respiratory and/or others, would be used to test for the bunyavirus being studied by Xiao et al., the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Thus, some of these specimens, if preserved by freezing, could be used to test for either the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself or antibody to SARS-CoV-2. Such tests could be performed on samples throughout 2019, and if positive, back into 2018. For additional background, see this related Science Speaks post from July 2021.

Indeed, this study might not be the only one involving live mammals in Wuhan markets and therefore not the only potential source of live mammal specimens that could be used to test retrospectively for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 or its antibodies, whether neutralizing or not.

Why China claimed that no live mammals were present in the Huanan Seafood Market, as late as the WHO-China joint study report March 30, 2021, is a key question to answer. Having this claim refuted by data made public in June 2021, and now in March 2023, requires that the additional key questions be answered. Specifically, what were the results of testing for SARS-CoV-2 on live mammals and recently dead mammals that had not been refrigerated or frozen, and what were the pathology results from any autopsies performed on mammals in markets or warehouses?

Autopsies would have most likely been performed on mammals in the Huanan market that had recently died consistent with a lethal virus in that species (on the other hand, a novel virus may not have caused any illness in these mammals). Although carcasses of any such mammals have not been reported, specific inquiry into racoon dogs, bamboo rats, mink and masked palm civets should at a minimum be answered by those with relevant knowledge of events in the Huanan Market in December 2019 and early January 2020.

Of note, the WHO-China report (page 95, table) listed positive SARS-CoV-2 tests from one other market in Wuhan, the “Dongxihu Market” (the footnote on page 95 listed one other market tested, but it was in another city (“Huanggang”). One or more unnamed “warehouses related to the Huanan market” were also listed in Table 1 on page 95 as being positive for SARS-CoV-2. 

It is not plausible that Chinese officials did not test for the virus, or antibody, in some or all of the places discussed above. 

Truth and transparency are critical in addressing future pandemics. We call for all countries to follow these principles, which will save lives.