quizequeen … Bats are mammals and live in large social groups, like us. They carry this virus but are immune.
Most Bat colonies live in caves, which are inaccessible for the most part to human activity, hence no cross infection.
The similarities between us and Bats (yes!) means with a few mutations the virus has got a foot hold.
According to lots of scientific research out there, its accepted that Bats are the source.
The link to Pangolins has been put forward but not yet completely endorsed.
Whether accidental infection of differing species in Wuh Han markets.
Or accidental/purposeful infection in laboratory,
then accidental/purposeful escape/release of virus, is where the conspiracy theories begin.
Take your pick.
It begins and ends in China, but our lack of interest in preventative research into virus contagion in general, is why we are playing catch up.
Basically we have been complacent since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.
BTW ...anyone heard the conspiracy theory that the Spanish flu (1918 and nothing to do with Spain) was started in America by an infected eastern European man sent to bring the USA to its knees?