Coronavirus Update: WHO Urges Countries to Suspend Market Sale of Captured Live Wild Animals

World: On Tuesday, the health agency of the United Nations urged the countries to suspend the sale of live wild animals in food markets. The health agency said that wild animals are a leading source of infectious diseases like coronavirus. They issued new guidance which said, “wild animals are the source of more than 70% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses”.

The origin of the coronavirus has been the source of intense speculation, many health agencies thought that it was carried by bats, and then it was passed to humans through an intermediary species sold as food or medicine in the Chinese markets. Covid-19 had first appeared in Wuhan. WHO highlighted the risk of direct transmission of emerging infectious diseases to humans who come in contact with the bodily fluids of an infected animal.

In a major statement WHO said, “Globally, traditional markets can play a central role in providing food and livelihoods for large populations”. It further added, “Banning the sale of the animals can protect people’s health-both those working there and those shopping there”. WHO has joined with the World Organization for Animal Health and the UN environment program which has lead to the new recommendations.