Since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, the track of transmission via an animal has been privileged. It would certainly have started in the food market in Wuhan, China, where wild and living mammals are sold, with the aim of being consumed by the population. According to the results of the first investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, carried out by experts appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the animal in question has not been identified. However, according to the scientific data that could be gathered by them, the theory of contamination via an intermediate host (an animal carrying the virus) to humans remains ” likely to very likely. “
WHO wants to suspend sale of mammals
This Tuesday, April 13, the WHO is calling for the worldwide suspension of the sale of wild and live mammals in food markets. Indeed, the sale of these animals involves health risks, in particular because they can be vectors of new infectious diseases transmissible to humans. WHO said in a statement that “ Animals, especially wild animals, are the source of over 70% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, and many of them are caused by new viruses. “Since the appearance of the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus, responsible for the Covid-19 disease, more than 2.8 million people worldwide have died from it, as Public Health France indicates.
Hygiene and disease
Stopping the sale of these animals on food markets is not the only request of the WHO. Indeed, the Agency wants the hygiene rules present in these traditional markets to be improved and cleaned up. This should make it possible to limit the risks of transmission from animals to humans, but also from the seller to his customer. In addition, the WHO wants the breeding and sale of wild animals for human consumption to be controlled and governed by new regulations. This is why “ veterinary inspectors Will be trained, to ensure that these new measures are respected. Their role will also be to quickly detect new pathogens, monitor them carefully and conduct information campaigns aimed at merchants and consumers.
