French scientists have called the possible timing of the emergence of coronaviruses in Europe: a new infection could spread there in November — two months before the country officially confirmed the first case of infection. This is stated in the research of Dr. Michel Schmitt and his team from hospital albert-Schweitzer in Colmar, reports NBC News.
Doctors who continue to search for patient zero in France, learned from chest x-rays of thousands of patients and were able to identify that two of them, according to the symptoms, was infected with the coronavirus. It is specified that the scan was conducted in the period from 16 to 18 November. The first official case of infection was registered in the country only on January 24.
In addition, 12 cases of coronavirus have been identified in December and early January. However, Schmitt said that the study would not be terminated. The doctor along with his team intends to study x-rays in October 2019, to determine the timing of emergence and spread of COVID-19.
“We can control the future only on the condition that we understand the past. Now we don’t understand, where’s the source of this outbreak,” concluded Schmitt.
In may of the same data emerged about the spread of coronavirus in the UK. An epidemiologist from the Royal infirmary Bradford John Wright said in his blog on the website “Russian service Bi-bi-si” that the zero case can be recorded in January — two months before the official confirmation of the first case of infection.
The total number of infected by the coronavirus in the world by the morning of 31 may exceeded of 6.06 million. The increase in the number of infected in days made 132,9 thousand. The pandemic has covered 188 countries.
