The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a halt to the sale of live;wild mammals in food markets to prevent the emergence of new diseases.
A new report released by the organization revealed that animals,;“particularly wild animals”, are the source of more than 70% of emerging infectious diseases in humans.
It added that many of these diseases are;caused;by;novel viruses – a virus that has not previously been;recorded.
“Wild mammals, in particular, pose a risk for the emergence of new diseases. They come into markets without any way to check if they carry dangerous viruses.
“There is a risk of direct transmission to humans from coming into contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucus, faeces, or other body fluids of an infected animal.
“There is also an additional risk of picking up the infection from contact with areas where animals are;housed in markets or objects or surfaces that could have been contaminated with such viruses.”
The WHO also noted that “traditional markets play a central role in providing food and livelihoods ” around the world. It added that banning the sale of live wild animals would help protect the health of both shoppers and workers.
Investigation into Covid-19 origins
The new report comes after a WHO team visited Wuhan in China to investigate the origins of COVID-19. A report released after the investigation in March stated;that the most likely scenario is that the virus originated;in bats, was;spread to another unidentified animal, and then passed;on to humans.
The organization disclosed the closest-related viruses to COVID-19 have been found in bats in southwest China. However, the intermediate host is more elusive as mink, pangolins, rabbits, raccoon dogs and domesticated cats have all been cited as a possibility.
The new report said that a theory the virus was leaked from a lab was “extremely unlikely” but it has not been ruled out. It added that people need a “reality check” as restrictions are eased.
COVID-19 pandemic ‘a long way from over’
The call for a ban of the sale of wild animals also comes as the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the pandemic is ‘a long way from over’
Speaking at a news briefing, he intimated that confusion and complacency in addressing COVID-19 means the pandemic is a long way from being over, but it can be brought under control in months with proven public health measures.
“We too want to see societies and economies reopening, and travel and trade resuming. But right now, intensive care units in many countries are overflowing and people are dying – and it’s totally avoidable”
“The COVID19 pandemic is a long way from over. But we have many reasons for optimism. The decline in cases and deaths during the first two months of the year shows that this virus and its variants can be stopped.”
Dr Maria van Kerkhove, head of WHO’s technical response added that the global coronavirus pandemic is at a “critical point”.
“We need headlines around these public health and social measures. We need headlines around the tools that we have right now that can prevent infections and save lives.
“We’re in a critical point of the pandemic right now; the trajectory of this pandemic is growing.”
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