New Beijing virus data suggests European strain
China has released genome sequencing data for the coronavirus responsible for a recent outbreak in Beijing, with officials identifying a European strain based on preliminary studies.
China said it has submitted the data to the World Health Organization.
Details published on China's National Microbiology Data Center website revealed the Beijing genome data was based on three samples - two human and one environmental - collected on June 11.
The same day the Chinese capital reported its first new local COVID-19 infection in months.
Since then Beijing has reported a total of 183 cases, linked to the major wholesale food centre of Xinfadi in the city's southwest.
Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiology expert for the Chinese Centre of Disease Control, told state media this week the Beijing strain was similar to Europe's, although not necessarily directly transmitted from European countries.
Wu did not elaborate on those comments made before the genome data release.
The market has since closed and food wholesalers and retail stores in Beijing have stepped up testing on products including meat and seafood.
