Wuhan Food Market Sells Exotic Species Linked To Virus, Pandemics As Delicacies
WUHAN VIRUS MARKET – The food market in Wuhan where the new coronavirus was originally discovered turned out to be a smorgasbord of exotic wildlife linked to previous pandemics.
The rampant outbreak of the new Wuhan coronavirus was believed to have originated from a wild animal sold at the food market.
According to an article from Channel News Asia, vendor information revealed that animals like wolf pups and those linked to pandemics such as civets were being sold in the said market.
Many exotic species are consumed as delicacies in China and other Asian countries. Some of these animals include civet, some rats, or bats. However, this brings elevated human health risks.
According to Christian Walzer, executive director of the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society’s Health Program, 70% of all new infectious diseases come from wildlife.
The increased rampant habitat encroachment of these species increases the chances of pathogens spreading.
Epidemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was linked to the consumption of civet meat. In addition, a price list for a business at the Wuhan market that circulated online revealed a menagerie of animals for sale.
You could buy animal-based products which included live foxes, crocodiles, wolf puppies, giant salamanders, snakes, rats, peacocks, porcupines, camel meat and other game.
There were 112 items in total. The price list for the vendor also had this statement:
“Freshly slaughtered, frozen and delivered to your door
Wild Game Animal Husbandry for the Masses”
The director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that authorities believed the new coronavirus outbreak came from “wild animals at the seafood market”. However, the exact source of the virus remained to be unknown.
The Chinese government banned the trafficking of several wild species and required special licenses. However, as per the article, there is a loophole for some species if they are commercially farmed.
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