The World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday said that over 70 per cent of all emerging diseases in humans may come from wild animals.
WHO now calls for a halt on the sale of live mammals in food markets globally. Agencies of the world have drawn up a new guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 and other zoonotic diseases in traditional food markets.
Since wet markets like the one in Wuhan which has been linked to the raging coronavirus pandemic pose great threats to humans. As the slaughter of live wild animals in open areas can become hotspots for new viruses.
The agencies involved in drawing up the fresh documentation are the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The SARS-CoV-2 virus which is responsible for the coronavirus pandemic has links with a wholesale traditional food market in Wuhan.
Many of the emerging infectious diseases such as the Lassa fever, Marburg haemorraghic fever, Nipah viral infections and others also have wildlife origins.
Research shows a strong association between the marketing and sale of live wild animals and the emergence of novel zoonotic pathogens.
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