Wuhan virus: The science

How viruses spread from animals to humans

Customers buying meat at a market in Beijing, on Jan 23, 2020. PHOTO: AFP
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Viruses are everywhere, and in almost every living thing on the planet.

But there are several barriers that normally prevent their jump from animals to humans.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on February 02, 2020, with the headline How viruses spread from animals to humans. Subscribe