Comment by Ibrahim C. Haznedaroglu

Analyses of the earliest documented COVID-19 cases suggest a significant spatial association with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (HSM) in Wuhan. Multiple independent studies have reported that many of the earliest cases – particularly those without known links to other confirmed infections – clustered around the HSM. Two early viral lineages (A and B) were identified among cases near the market, which some researchers interpret as being compatible with multiple spillover events or rapid early spread in a crowded market environment. Retrospective mapping has indicated that early cases not directly linked to the market were still geographically concentrated around the surrounding district, suggesting this area may have played a role in early amplification.