CORONAVIRUS AND ANIMAL CONSUMPTION

Coronavirus ground zero is a wet market in Wuhan where animals, both dead and alive, wildlife and not, are sold in the open, according to a 2020 article by Sarah Newey and Anne Gulland for Telegraph.

Scientists are divided on the source, whether it’s the needless consumption of bats or that of pangolins, but the consensus is clear: This large-scale disruption is brought on by our abuse of animals.

The market selling sea creatures and animal meat has been closed. Instead, Wuhan now has 14 outdoor fresh markets that sell fruits and vegetables, according to Dai Piaoyi’s online report for CGTN. These markets are thoroughly disinfected at the end of every business day.

There aren’t many customers yet as most residents still fear the pandemic, and rightly so. But now, vegetable vendors have a source of livelihood again, the city has a sense of normalcy coming back, and the residents’ food choices have become healthier for them, the animals, and the environment – at least for the time being.

It’s nothing new for an outbreak to be linked to human’s consumption of animal meat, according to a 2020 report by Alia Chughtai for Al Jazeera:

Ebola and SARS is linked to bats H5n1-bird flu, with a 53% fatality rate, is linked to birds H7N9, another bird flu, has a fatality rate of 39% H1N1, also called swine flu, is linked to pigs

But outbreaks seem to be forgettable. Our species continues to eat, wear, and use animals.

COVID-19 has and will continue to cause deaths, hunger, poverty, and instability. If we forget once again how our horrendous treatment of animals has time and time again brought us illnesses and suffering, then we’ll just have to prepare for another outbreak.