Among the wild animals sold at the Chinese wet market there were also koalas, although it is a species already highly endangered.
Al Wuhan wet market in China, the epicenter of the infection of the Coronavirus, several menus based on wild animal meat were available, including that of koalas.
It seems incredible, since i koala they have recently been decimated in Australian fires. It is estimated that over a thousand specimens were killed by the flames and that many others suffered serious injuries. Wildlife recovery centers, as well as firefighters and ordinary citizens, have been busy for months trying to rescue and save as many koalas as possible, to prevent the species from extinction.
Despite the plight of Australian koalas, these animals are on the list of wild species available in China's wet markets. The list was published by the South China Morning Post newspaper: koalas imported from Australia were used as an ingredient in menus available for just $ 10.
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La koala meat could be responsible for spreading the deadly virus, as well as bat soup, snake meat, and menus featuring crocodile, dromedary, fox, wolf pups, and other wildlife.
Animals sold at the wet market, South China Morning Post
It is now clear that the first infection occurred due to the consumption of one of these wild animals, infected with the terrible virus.
In wet markets, wild animals arrive alive and are slaughtered directly on the spot without respecting any basic sanitation standards. In fact, the animals are not controlled, they do not respect the quarantine and are killed outdoors, in dirty spaces.
Wet Market, South China Morning Post
Although the market has been closed and disinfected, the virus has undergone mutations that have made it capable of infecting human cells as well and is now capable of being transmitted from human to human.
The virus causes a serious disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome, which can even lead to death. According to data released by the Chinese National Health Commission, since the first infection recorded in December last year, today there are 17 deaths and almost 600 new cases, of which 95 in critical conditions.
It is feared that the virus may infect a huge number of people since Wuhan is an important hub for transportation within the country. Health authorities have already tracked down 5.897 people who have had close contact with patients: 969 of them have been released, but another 4.928 are still under medical observation.
The virus has already crossed the country's borders to Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Now the concern is that it may spread further due to the expected influx of tourists on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.
Read also:
- Hundreds of cats have been saved from the meat trade in China
- Koalas are dying burnt alive in fires in Australia - they could go extinct within 30 years
