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New York coronavirus came via Europe, not directly from China, scientists say
- Analysis of gene samples from 84 Covid-19 patients in city suggests most had a European origin, according to researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Similar study conducted in April found that about two-thirds of infections in New York were probably imported from Europe
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The coronavirus spreading in New York is unlikely to have come directly from China, but from infected people travelling to the United States from Europe, according to a new study.
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Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York said genetic analysis of samples taken from 84 Covid-19 patients in the city showed “limited evidence” of direct introductions from China, where the virus was first identified at the end of last year.
In most cases, the source of the infection was “untracked transmission between the US and Europe”, according to the study, which was published in Science magazine last week.
“Notably, the majority of introductions appear to have been sourced from Europe and the USA,” it said.
While most cases probably originated from Italy, Finland, Spain and France and other European countries, local transmission is likely to have contributed to the early community spread of the coronavirus, the researchers said.
The study was based on analysis of viral genotypes collected from patients cared for under the Mount Sinai Health System – a hospital network in New York – between February 29 and March 18.
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