Before the COVID-19 outbreak, many people had never heard the term "wet market," which is believed to be the origin of the novel coronavirus. It's simply a market that sells live and dead animals—often of a variety of species—for human consumption, like those that exist in New York. SARS is a coronavirus that's believed to have first infected humans at a Chinese wet market, just like COVID-19.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, avian flu, swine flu, SARS, HIV, Ebola, and other diseases are linked to meat production or consumption. Not all of these come from live-animal markets— Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a variant of mad cow disease, for instance, can affect a person who has eaten certain body parts of an infected cow—but such markets, where stressed, injured, and sick animals are commonly caged in public areas, are perfect breeding grounds for diseases.
The cages are stacked one over another. Animals at the bottom are often soaked with all kinds of liquid. Animal excrement, pus, blood. Such conditions allow viruses to spread from one animal to another as well as to humans who come into contact with them.
Although the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus is thought to have first infected humans, has closed and that country has banned the consumption and farming of "wild" animals (hopefully, not only temporarily), it's important to note that diseases don't just affect animals humans have labelled as "wild." Many wet markets continue to operate throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the U.S. There are more than 80 live-animal markets and slaughterhouses in New York City alone.
Just as we don't want to be infected with or die from COVID-19, other animals don't want to suffer or be killed for food. (source: Peta.org)
What are you doing to help animals to live and people including yourself to live a healthy life? Ditch consuming meat, go vegan, ask for delicious vegan recipes, you will find plenty of varieties online: you will stay healthy and so will our planet !
Shop with us to find natural products to help you in the kitchen and outdoor, to buy and store food, such as reusable mesh bags, reusable silicone food bags, food wraps and lunch boxes, and more.
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