Study shows that virus was present in US even before COVID-19 was reported in China

WASHINGTON: A study shows that the virus was present in the United States even before the corona virus was reported in China.

The findings are based on a study by Bloomberg, a leading American media outlet. The study says the corona virus began to spread around the world long before the first case was reported in China.

The study indicates that 106 cases were identified from 7389 blood samples collected from nine states in the United States between 13 December and 17 January 2019.

The blood samples were collected by the American Red Cross.  The COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan at the end of December. The virus has been reported in 60 million people worldwide so far.

As early as mid-December last year, there were isolated COVID-19 cases in the western US, according to the study. In early January, antibodies were detected in other sites. Some in France too were hospitalised with symptoms of COVID at the end of December.

Amid controversy over the origin of COVID-19, the release of a new study report could lead to further discussions.