Are wet markets the hub to deadly viruses?

China, the second-largest economy, third-largest country by area and the most populous country in the world has become the breeding ground for viruses which are transmitting zoonotic diseases. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002, originated in China and affected the people in many countries. Currently, COVID-19, a pandemic spread across the globe, already killed more than 30,000 and has origins in China. Both diseases were first identified in wet markets of china. Of course, both diseases were identified in two different regions of China, but they share a common quality that both are first recognised in wet markets.

Did you know?

• COVID-19 first observed in the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China.
• Twenty-seven out of the first 41 people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 are related to Wuhan wet market.
• Wet markets are more predominant in Asia – China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and Hongkong.