File Photo: CGTN

A new genetic analysis out of the UK suggests the novel coronavirus spread quickly around the world late last year.

Researchers from the University College London Genetics Institute analyzed the virus genomes of over 7,500 patients infected around the world and the result shows it has been circulating since late last year, and must have spread extremely quickly after the first infection, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Infection, Genetics and Evolution.

A large proportion of the coronavirus' global genetic diversity was found in all countries with the largest outbreaks, suggesting vast worldwide transmission when the virus emerged in late 2019, according to the release.