The outbreak of pneumonia caused by a new strain of the corona family (nCoV) can originate from scorpions and cobras in Wuhan.

Scientists in China identified the causative agent of the epidemic from an entirely new strain of Corona virus, together with the virus that causes SARS and MERS syndrome, causing hundreds of deaths 17 years ago.

Reports indicate that most groups of hospitalized patients are workers or customers at a local seafood market as well as raw meat and fresh animal meat.

Scientists initially discovered that the nCoV's DNA could be caused by a mutation in the bat's virus before it reaches humans. But a more detailed bioinformatics analysis of the nCoV sequence suggests that the virus could come from snakes.

By analyzing the protein code of nCoV and comparing it with the corona virus code in different hosts, the researchers found that the protein code of nCoV was similar to that of solid code.

Snakes often hunt bats in the wild. Reports suggest that snakes are sold in a seafood market in Wuhan, increasing the likelihood that nCoV may have been transmitted from a host by a bat to a snake and subsequently transmitted to humans at the time of the outbreak.

However, how the virus can adapt to both cold-blooded and hot-blooded animals remains a mystery.

Experiments should be conducted to verify the true origin of the virus causing the pneumonia epidemic. But when the disease broke out, the seafood market was disinfected and closed, making it difficult to trace the new virus.

Acute pneumonia started in Wuhan City, central China from late December 2019 and quickly spread to many other cities and appeared in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Vietnam.

Chinese media confirmed that more than 630 people had acute pneumonia and 17 died as of January 23. Three cities in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Huangjiang and Ngauzhou, have blocked rail, air, long-distance buses and public transport to control the outbreak.

Chinese authorities have claimed the disease could be transmitted from person to person while the World Health Organization (WHO) is considering declaring a state of emergency. Beijing has also canceled events to celebrate the Chinese New Year and urges residents to avoid crowded places to cope with the epidemic.