Since its first declaration on the last day of 2019, the coronavirus that originated from China’s Wuhan city that has killed more than 800 people and nearly 38,000 in China alone had been infected. It is widely agreed that the disease was first spread from animal-to-human contact because many infected patients are associated with a live animal/seafood market in Wuhan City. It has also been spread to more than 20 places across the world, including Malaysia which has 16 confirmed cases as of 9th February 2020. Countries like the US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and others have carried out screening to find infected travellers but this is also an effort to teach the public about this emerging disease.

In order to control the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese authorities have locked down the Hubei province and implemented a temporary ban on the trade (raising, transporting and selling) of wild animals until the pandemic situation is stated over. This action has once been taken 18 years ago as a result of the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003. 

However, is this temporary ban enough to save the animals from being traded? How about other countries?

The rising global demand for meat and the lack of regulation are putting 5 million animals at risk daily. The animals are being threatened with poor conditions during transportation and inhumanity on arrival. For example, removing tendons in cows’ legs to prevent it from moving. 

Wild animals are also being traded in the public. Other than the market in Wuhan, China, a market in Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia called the Tomohon Extreme Market also sells wild animals like snakes for consumption. The animals are treated abusively (for example, beaten to death) before they are killed and sold for their meat. There is a higher chance that meat contains parasites that would cause dangerous diseases. 

  
The capacity of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is limited although it is responsible for setting up rules and standards for public and animal health. There is a need to improve regulations to oversee both the farm and wild animals. In addition to improving the regulations, the most useful way is to decrease the consumption of meat products altogether. Other than saving animals, this habit can save the environment and your health too. This is because 18% of global greenhouse gases, wastage and pollution are contributed by animal agriculture. A plant-centric diet also promotes better health and a lower risk of heart disease and various cancers. 

So, what are you waiting for? Let's start by being a vegetarian to protect the animals, the environment and yourself!