Markets a ‘time bomb’ for viruses
Asian wildlife markets where animals are butchered and sold in unsanitary conditions are ‘‘ticking time bombs’’ for a new and potentially much more lethal epidemic than the current coronavirus outbreak, conservationists and disease experts have warned.
It is only a matter of time before the emergence of the next virus while the markets remain open and wild animals are traded, they say.
The dire prediction was issued yesterday amid a worldwide surge of infections outside China from the COVID-19 coronavirus, which is widely believed to have jumped to humans at a Chinese market from animals, possibly the pangolin, infected by bats.
Wildlife markets provided the ‘‘perfect storm’’ of conditions for the spread of viruses and disease, said Steven Galster, founder of Freeland, a Bangkok-based antitrafficking organisation.
Conservationists and scientists are urging southeast Asian countries to follow the example of China, which last week announced a ban on a wildlife trade estimated to be worth up to US$74 billion (NZ$118b) a year.
‘‘The rest of Asia needs to stop the wildlife trade now and close down these markets and restaurants selling so-called exotic meat,’’ said Galster, as Freeland launched a new investigation into the scale of wildlife trafficking by southeast Asian and African gangs.
‘‘This goes way beyond China or pangolin or novel coronavirus. These markets are ticking time bombs.’’
Under orders from President Xi Jinping, China’s parliament has banned the consumption and sale of wild animals in markets, restaurants and online in an attempt to thwart the spread of zoonotic diseases, which jump from animals to people.
The curbs are far-reaching but temporary, pending a review of China’s wildlife protection laws. There are still significant loopholes – wildlife for medicine is not covered – and fears that the powerful players in such a lucrative industry will use their financial heft to water down the regulations when the crisis passes, or take their business underground.
Galster welcomed the initial moves, including the closure of an estimated 20,000 wildlife markets – among them the ‘‘ground zero’’ location at Wuhan where live foxes, wolf cubs, turtles and crocodiles were on offer – as long as they were made permanent and properly implemented.
The demand for wild animals for meat and medicine in Asia, notably from Chinese consumers, has long caused alarm because of the risks for endangered species and horrific treatment of the animals.
But closing the markets and ending the trade is no longer just a matter of conservation and cruelty, say campaigners and scientists. A public health crisis is now at stake, as the world heads towards a pandemic.
– Sunday Times