WHO calls for suspension of trade in live wild mammals in markets

WHO calls for the suspension of live animal markets to prevent further epidemics.

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Even though the Covid-19 epidemic may not have originated there, the Wuhan animal market in China may have played an amplifying role.

To prevent further epidemics, WHO is therefore calling for the global suspension of trade in live wild mammals in markets.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday called for the worldwide suspension of the sale of live wild mammals in food markets, due to the high risk of transmitting new infectious diseases to humans.

These recommendations are addressed to all countries, including Africa where the

consumption and handling of bushmeat

could play a role in the transmission of the Ebola virus.

WHO, @OIEAnimalHealth and @UNEP have issued guidance to reduce the public health risks associated with the sale of live wild animals for food in traditional food markets.https: //t.co/vKU5RdszBD

- World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 13, 2021

Seventy percent of infectious diseases come from the animal world, recalls the WHO in a joint statement with the World Organization for Animal Health

.

 This is the case with salmonella infections, the AIDS virus and even the flu, which were first born in birds.

The promiscuity between man and animals, especially wild animals, is a determining factor in the emergence of what are called zoonoses.

And Covid-19 is one of those diseases or infections that are naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans, reports our correspondent in Geneva,

Jérémie Lanche

.

Banning the sale of wild animals, such as those found in the Wuhan market, could therefore prevent the emergence of new epidemics.

China had also banned their trade after the SARS crisis in 2002. Before re-authorizing it.

Then to ban it again in the wake of Covid-19.

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