Coronavirus and the Need to Shut Down Wet Markets and Illegal Slaughterhouses Globally
Infectious diseases pose a significant health threat to our global population. Recent diseases such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the on-going Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are prime examples of the effects that diseases have upon global health, the financial markets, and day-to-day life for those in affected areas.
Both SARS and COVID-19 can be linked to wet markets in China. These markets, a popular source of produce, meat and live animals, are not only prevalent in Chinese cities, but cities across Asia, and have been left unregulated. Many of these live animals are smuggled in illegally from all over the world that are never together in the wild. For example, in one case in Thailand, which is typical for most wet markets across all Asian countries, one stall of a wet market housed Australian Cockatoos, Blue Tongue Lizards, African Meerkats, European ferrets, rare tortoises and snakes.
According to the American Society for Microbiology, scientists tell us that keeping different animals in close, prolonged proximity with one another and with people creates an unhealthy environment that is the probable source of the mutation that enabled COVID-19 to infect humans. More precisely, in such an environment, a coronavirus long present in some animals underwent rapid mutation as it changed from nonhuman host to nonhuman host, and ultimately gained the ability to bind to human cell receptors, thus adapting to the human host.
Moreover, it is believed that the zoonotic jump between animals and humans typically happens in the handling and slaughter of the animals in these wet markets. This is due to the animal being stressed and their immune systems being significantly lower. According to a report from the New York Times, Pangolins are the primary suspect in the link to COVID-19. Pangolins are also the most trafficked animal in the world and extremely high on the menu in China and elsewhere across Asian wet markets.
For years, The Vanderpump Dog Foundation has been warning of the immense dangers associated with the consumption of illegal meat, as well as the horrific and inhumane practices present in these wet markets. As noted in The Vanderpump Dog Foundation’s documentary, ‘The Road to Yulin…and Beyond’ released in 2017, that uncovered the graphic realities of the slaughterhouse torture and dog abuse in China, there are a lot of hidden dangers associated with the consumption of meat of unknown origins. These risks include, rabies exposure to slaughterhouse workers, antibiotic resistance, parasites and bacterial infections when people eat dog meat. An estimated 60% of all known human infectious diseases and 75% of emerging pathogens originate in animals, according to the World Health Organization.
With COVID-19, the global implications from the original cases linked to Chinese wet markets are incredible. To date, over 100 countries have reported cases with several countries including Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium initiating countrywide lockdowns to ensure containment. The implications from illegal and unregulated wet markets on a global scale is a disease whose origins come from such markets in Wuhan, China that are now killing individuals across the globe.
Pressure has mounted on authorities in China and elsewhere where wet markets are present, to crack down. Several efforts are already underway such as a temporary ban on the trade of wild animals - ranging from snakes, bats and turtles in wet markets, supermarkets, restaurants and e-commerce platforms in Wuhan, China. More broadly, Chinese President XI Jinping announced a study on the prevention and control of the coronavirus including the need to strengthen market supervision, resolutely ban and severely crack down on illegal wildlife markets and trade, and control major public health risks from the source, according to Chinese news agency Xinhau. Moreover, the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China has declared that it would revise wildlife protections laws and regulations, in order to toughen the crackdown on wildlife trafficking, due to the outbreak. An official statement saying, “the supervision, inspection and law enforcement should be strengthened to ensure that wildlife trade markets are banned and closed.”
Most recently, in the city of Shenzhen, home to 30 million in China, progress has been made with the passing of a law banning the consumption of dog/cat meat that will be into effect on May 1, 2020. This is substantial progress towards impeding the ever growing network of illegal slaughterhouses; however, these changes need to be implemented into other cities, both major and minor, throughout the country and follow the lead of Shenzhen to not only ban the consumption of dog/cat meat, but ultimately to shut down all wet markets.
To avoid future pandemics, we need a global attempt to shut down and/or significantly regulate these wet markets not only in China, but across the world. As we continue to see a massive global response to COVID-19, the source of the outbreak also needs a global reaction. As stated by Chris Walzer, Executive Director of Health at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, “Preventing future zoonotic outbreaks is not about targeting one species — like pangolins, bats and snakes — but taking strong actions to ban wet markets trading in wildlife and broadly strengthening wildlife laws and regulations.”
“We need to address the root of where this devastating pandemic began and we implore local and federal governments to create change. Any lack of action with regards to addressing the source of this pandemic will present a danger for our future, and the threat that similar diseases will not only reoccur but expand. We continue to think of those across the world that have been gravely affected by COVID-19, and encourage global governments to put thought into action to stop this from happening again. This sadly is a stark reminder of what our Foundation has been fighting for since our inception and the incredible need to shut down slaughterhouses and illegal markets.”
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings of Florida’s 20th Congressional district has led the fight in the United States Congress against the global dog meat trade. In fact, he and Congressman Vern Buchanan of Florida’s 16th Congressional district, were instrumental in banning the dog and cat meat trade in the United States, during the 115th Congress. “Millions of dogs are slaughtered worldwide every year. The slaughter of dogs will not prevent hunger or improve human welfare, nor is there any economic justification to continue this horrific and barbaric practice. It is imperative that we send a strong signal to all nations that we will not stand by while the brutal and inhumane treatment of dogs continues,” said Hastings. “I am proud to continue this fight with Lisa Vanderpump and Dr. John Sessa, and the millions of supporters across the globe to ensure that this horrific practice is ended once and for all, and we do all that we can to protect the lives of individuals worldwide.”
To take action and send a strong message against wet markets and illegal slaughter houses, please sign our change.org petition and help us urge the United Nations and the Director-General of the World Health Organization to make needed change!
To view the Vanderpump Dog Foundation’s Documentary, ‘The Road to Yulin…and Beyond’ please visit Prime Video.