The origin of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran can be traced to Chinese workers and students in the Shia holy city of Qom, said an Iranian deputy health minister.
As of Wednesday, 2,077 in Iran have died from coronavirus, and there are 27,017 confirmed cases.
“A strong epidemiology team began their research from the day we had the first coronavirus case in Qom,” deputy health minister Alireza Raisi said on Wednesday.
“Based on the findings, this disease is clearly and specifically from Chinese workers and students in Qom,” Raisi added.
By “students” Raisi is referring to Chinese students studying at Al-Mustafa International University (MIU).
MIU is a state-funded, Shia seminary based in Qom with almost 40,000 foreign students. MIU claims to be an international academic, Islamic, and university-style seminary institute.
Mohammad Hossein Bahraini, head of Mashhad’s medical university, was quoted as saying in February that coronavirus spread to Qom through 700 Chinese students studying at MIU.
