World
Humans are playing Russian roulette with global public safety
China has banned trade in wildlife for human consumption, but medicinal wildlife farms are still allowed to operate
China and its neighbours must not only crack down on wildlife trade, but also shut legal loopholes that allow disease-prone species to be farmed, experts said after an investigation team concluded that Covid-19 most likely originated in animals.
A recent World Health Organisation-led (WHO) study said it was “likely to very likely” that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the global pandemic, was introduced to humans from bats via an intermediary species, with wildlife farming playing a crucial role.
Tong Yigang, a Chinese animal disease expert involved in the joint study, said the findings vindicated Beijing’s decision last year to ban trade in wildlife for human consumption...
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