Prof CHIU refuted the proof in the Science Magazine that the Huanan Seafood Market was the epicenter of the pandemic. The question of the origin of COVID-19 remains open.

Date: February 2024

Professor CHIU, Sung Nok

The Department of Mathematics is proud to showcase the pioneering research conducted by Prof. CHIU Sung Nok, which offers new perspectives on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. His paper titled "Statistics did not prove that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market was the early epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic" refuted the statistical analysis in the Science Magazine article entitled “The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic”. Through meticulous work, Prof. Chiu concluded that the Huanan Seafood Market was not proven to be the epicenter, and the origin of the pandemic remained an open problem.

This groundbreaking study calls for a reassessment of the statistical evidence of the pandemic's beginnings, with potential implications for enhancing preparedness and response strategies in future health crises. The Department of Mathematics proudly supports Prof. CHIU's dedication to public health and his commitment to accessible scientific research, highlighting the vital role of mathematical analysis in addressing real-world challenges.

Here are the links to the research article and reports in major media outlets:

Research article:

Title: Statistics did not prove that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market was the early epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic
Source: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A: Statistics in Society
Publication Date: 16 January 2024

News 1:

Title: Covid-19 origins: researchers challenge early paper pointing to Wuhan market as epicentre of pandemic
Source: South China Morning Post
Publication Date: 29 January 2024

News 2:

Title: Die Spur der frühen Fälle
Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine
Publication Date: 28 January 2024

News 3:

Title: Covid Market Origins Hypothesis Challenged by Statisticians
Source: Newsweek
Publication Date: 18 January 2024