Australia’s prime minister has described as “unfathomable” the World Health Organization’s support for the reopening of markets where live animals are butchered in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We need to protect the world against potential sources of outbreaks of these types of viruses. It’s happened too many times. I’m totally puzzled by this decision,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Nine Network television yesterday. “I think that’s unfathomable, frankly.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was unsettled by the reopening of the “wet markets” in Wuhan, which has been under a months-long lockdown.
Some scientists believe the virus came from wild animals at a wet market, where many kinds of live mammals, poultry, fish and reptiles are kept and then butchered when they are sold.
“There is a very real likelihood that this disease arose from a wet market in Wuhan – it’s clear that these are dangerous vectors,” Hunt told Australian Broadcasting Corp. “I would imagine that around the world, the vast majority of people would have a similar view.”
WHO said in a statement that wet markets should not be allowed to sell illegal wildlife for food and authorities should enforce food safety and hygiene regulations. But it said “wet markets and other food markets do not need to be closed down.”
China temporarily shut wet markets after the outbreak and suspended the sale of some kinds of wildlife. Local media say the markets are being reopened to alleviate the economic difficulties of shopkeepers. AP
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