World Health Organisation suspends sale of live wild mammals at food markets
As an emergency measure, the World Health Organization has said, live wild mammals should be halted on food markets.
The statement follows a WHO team in Wuhan to investigate the origins of COVID-19.
The most likely scenario is that the virus originated in bats, was spread to another unidentified animal, and then passed on to humans, a WHO report said in March.
According to a separate report released on Tuesday by the organization animals "especially wild animals," are the source of more than 70% of emerging infectious diseases in humans.
They added many of these are caused by novel viruses - a virus that has not previously been recorded.
The report states: "Wild mammals, in particular, pose a risk for the emergence of new diseases. They come into markets without any way to check if they carry dangerous viruses.
There is a risk of direct transmission to humans from coming into contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucus, faeces, or other body fluids of an infected animal, and an additional risk of picking up the infection from contact with areas where animals are housed in markets or objects or surfaces that could have been contaminated with such viruses."
The WHO said "traditional markets play a central role in providing food and livelihoods " around the world.
It added that banning the sale of live wild animals would help to protect the health of both shoppers and workers.
The closest-related viruses to COVID-19 have been found in bats in southwest China.
Mink, pangolins, rabbits, raccoon dogs, and domesticated cats have all been mentioned as possible intermediate hosts.
The WHO team said it was "highly unlikely" that the virus was leaked from a lab, but it couldn't be ruled out.
The WHO has declared the global coronavirus pandemic to be at a "critical stage," prompting the call for a ban on the selling of wild animals.
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