emerged in another host and this could be the missing intermediate species

[GoodTaste]

Does "this" refer to "another host"?

=======================
“The generalist property of the virus means an intermediate host is not required for any evolutionary change”, said Robertson. “As the virus has been around for decades it may have emerged in another host and this could be the missing intermediate species but we are inferring that this would only facilitate transmission.” The fact that SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in Wuhan, China, far from where the horseshoe bat is found, hints at the presence of an intermediary.


Source: The Lancet September, 2020
The origin of SARS-CoV-2
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...641-1/fulltext

[GoesStation]

What else do you think it might refer to?