Google translated 5h old article from TV2 Norway
:
The coronavirus may have been in Norway already in 2019
Researchers at Ahus have found antibodies against covid-19 all the way back to December 2019, a month before the first case was detected in Europe.
- This was very surprising. We examined blood samples back to December to be absolutely sure of going far enough back in time, so we did not expect to find a positive result so early, says project manager for the study, Anne Eskild in a press release posted on Ahus' website.
The first case in Europe was detected on 27 January 2020, while in Norway it was not detected until 24 February the same year.
At the same time as China
The discovery Ahus has made is from the same period as the first proven case was found in China.
The blood samples were taken from all pregnant women in the first trimester in Akershus University Hospital's catchment area in the months of December 2019-December 2020.
As part of maternity care in Norway, blood samples are taken from all pregnant women to check for syphilis. All samples are stored for the purpose of monitoring potential infectious diseases.
Concludes about findings
- There are probably few other countries that have access to stored blood samples at population level, and therefore there are few or no other retrospective studies, Eskild says.
Of the total of 6,020 women examined throughout the period, antibodies were detected in 98 women.
It must be taken into account that a certain proportion of false positive results may occur, but the researchers conclude that the findings indicate that the virus circulated in Norway already in 2019.
Probably infected abroad
The research group was given access to test the samples anonymously on the basis of the Infection Control Act.
Around 500 samples per month have been tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, and one positive result was found in December 2019, two in January 2020, and one in both February and March.
There is no systematic information on who the women who had the infection were, and whether they had symptoms, but it could be seen that the women who were diagnosed with antibodies before March 2020 were born in Norway, Eastern Europe, Africa or the Middle East.
- There are many indications that they are either infected in other parts of the world or via relatives who have been outside Norway, says Eskild, who believes the findings indicate that the infection may have been spread throughout the world much earlier than we previously thought.
- Changes the story
The first known cases became well known in December 2019 from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
- Our findings change the history of the corona epidemic both in Norway and in the world, says Eskild.
