China bans wildlife trade as Wuhan coronavirus spreads, death toll climbs
- Order goes into effect immediately and will be strictly enforced, government agencies warn
- But temporary restrictions will not solve the underlying problem, animal rights activist says
Health authorities have linked exotic animals sold at a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan to the new coronavirus, which has killed 80 people and infected more than 2,500 others within China, and spread around the world.
The ban goes into effect immediately and will continue until the end of the “national epidemic”.
In addition, wildlife breeding centres will be quarantined, regulations strictly enforced, and the public warned not to eat wild game products, according to the orders backed by three government agencies.
“Consumers should fully understand the health risks of eating wild animals, avoid ‘game meat’, and eat healthily,” the agencies – the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and National Forestry and Grassland Administration – said in a statement on Sunday.
The move follows a call from 19 leading scientists for the “elimination of the consumption and trade of wild animals”, published on the Twitter-like platform Weibo on Friday.