The WHO asks to suspend the sale of wild mammals in markets as an “emergency measure” against covid

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called for a suspension of the sale of live wild mammals in food markets such as “emergency measure”.

This is advised in an appeal published this Monday for countries to “take measures” to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans and wildlife, as well as

“As we enter the third year of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spreading between people at an intense level around the world. There are many factors that are driving transmission. One of them is the appearance of highly transmissible variants that are a cause for concern, the latest of which is Omicron. The virus continues to evolve and the risk of variants appearing in the future is high.” warn these United Nations agencies.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is driven by human-to-human transmission, it is known that According to the latest scientific studies, wildlife does not play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, but the spread in animal populations “It can affect the health of these populations and can facilitate the appearance of new variants of the virus”they warn.

In addition to domestic animals, free-ranging, captive or farmed wild animals such as big cats, mink, ferrets, North American white-tailed deer and great apes have been observed infected with SARS-CoV-2 so far. To date, farmed mink and pet hamsters have been shown to be able to infect humans with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and a possible case of t

“The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife could lead to the establishment of animal reservoirs. For example, approximately one-third of wild white-tailed deer in the United States have been reported to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, initially through various human-to-human transmission events. SARS-CoV-2 lineages detected in white-tailed deer have also circulated in nearby human populations. White-tailed deer have been shown to shed the virus and pass it on to each other.”they explain about it.

For this reason, they recommend that personnel who work in close contact with wildlife receive training to apply measures that reduce the risk of transmission between people and between people and animals.

“Current evidence suggests that humans do not become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus from eating meat. However, hunters should not track down animals that appear sick or pick up dead ones. Proper butchering and food preparation techniques, including proper hygiene practices, can limit the transmission of coronavirus, ”, they argue.

Likewise, the FAO, the OIE and the WHO underline that the population also “You should be educated about contact with wildlife.” “Some wild animals can approach human settlements and residential areas. As a general precaution, people should not approach or feed wild animals, or touch or eat those that are orphaned, sick, or found dead (including roadkill). Instead, they should contact local authorities.” fencing.

Also, masks, scarves and any other human waste to avoid attracting wildlife, especially in urban areas and, if possible, keep domestic animals away from wildlife and their droppings.

On the other hand, they urge the national animal and human health services of the countries to adopt measures such as promoting the surveillance of wildlife and encouraging the taking of samples from wild animals that are known to be potentially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. .

Within this package of initiatives, they also advise sharing all genetic sequence data from animal surveillance studies through public access databases, as well as informing the OIE of confirmed animal cases of SARS-CoV- 2 through the World Animal Health Information System (OIE-WAHIS).

Origin of the coronavirus

Researchers have identified the first case of COVID-19 in a vendor working at the Wuhan market, according to an article published late last year in the prestigious journal Science.

These data, as well as the analysis of the first cases of COVID-19 in the city, clearly tip the balance towards an animal origin of the virus, explains virologist Michael Worobey, author of the study.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, experts have debated the origin of the virus, in the absence of definitive evidence, although more evidence of animal-to-human transmission has recently emerged.

Agencies