CHINA BREEDING GROUND FOR VIRUSES – scientists and researchers agreed that China’s breeding ground is the source of viruses.
Scientists and researchers said that if government do not control the wildlife trade in China there will be more viruses to breed.
It can be remembered that China was once struck by the phenomenal occurrence of infectious disease during the 21st century, the SARS epidemic in 2005. Researchers and scientists later found out that deadly virus was traced from bats and civet cats which becomes the exotic foods of the Chinese people.
The recent infectious disease brought by the Wuhan Coronavirus is believed that virus came from the bat soup which is a common consumption to residents and villagers in the area. Health authorities believed that the epidemic outbreak originated at a food market in Wuhan.
There is some other animal trade in China like rats, giant salamanders, bats and wolf puppies. The consumption of these animals includes the virus within their body which believed by the experts caused the outbreak.
Similar post from the ABS-CBN showing the so called “Bushmeat” tread, the human encroachment to the wild habitats bring closer to animal which prone to virus infection.
President of EcoHealth Alliance Peter Daszak said, global NGO should focus on infectious disease prevention, because there are 1.7 million undiscovered viruses in wildlife. Half of the said viruses is potentially harmful to human being.
He also added that five of new animal-borne pathogens is expected to harm or infect humanity each year.
In addition, Diana Bell, wildlife disease and conservation biologist at the University of East Anglia who studied SARS, Ebola and other pathogens said:
For the sake of these wild species’ future, and for human health, we need to reduce consumption of these wild animals.
But, 17 years on, apparently that hasn’t happened.
Philosophically, eating wild meats is not that dangerous because virus dies once the host is also died. However, transfer of pathogens to human is possible during the capture of the animal, transportation or during the slaughter of the animal. This should be given more importance and can be prevented by proper sanitation and proper wearing of protective equipmen.
