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Time to Ban Wet Markets

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Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#51

Post by Leary »

Let's think about how these viruses occur.

They jump from one species of animal (dead or alive) to humans.

How can we pragmatically reduce the risk?

1. Ban markets where two different species are kept close to each other.

2. Identify species that are high risk. Ban eating them if they are not essential (other than domesticated animals).

3. For domesticated animals, have tough safety regulations.

4. For villages/cities near wild populations of high risk exotic animals (bats), have a system of monitoring.

5. Provide new jobs for people that are affected by the above restrictions so we don't drive them underground away from regulations.

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#52

Post by mytailorisrich »

We should refrain from giving way to blatant racism, like for example calling on purpose this virus the "Chinese virus".

There is no evidence at all that 'wet markets' are the source of this.

If there is an issue it is the hunting of wild animal for food and that is not specific to China, see Ebola, etc.

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#54

Post by reaperducer »

oiasdjfoiasd wrote: post #37
darawk wrote: post #6

It's important not to demonize Chinese people here. However, it's at the very least equally important to ensure that their agricultural practices stop producing these pandemic viruses. This is not the first one. Not even close. This is not one of those things that could have happened anywhere and the Chinese were simply unlucky. This is a direct consequence of their agricultural practices and it is extremely importan…

American Swine Flu in 2009 killed tens of thousands of people. To say it could not have happened anywhere is wrong.

American Swine Flu

Initially called an "outbreak", widespread H1N1 infection was first recognized in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, with evidence that the virus had been present for months before it was officially called an "epidemic"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic#History

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#56

Post by dluan »

I'm terrified that this outbreak is giving us a taste of the ecofascism that we're in for with the climate crisis, because now authors like this one can just outright say the quiet part loud.

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#57

Post by duxup »

tru3_power wrote: post #19
heldupathome wrote: post #13

I think it’s a disgrace that the Chinese government hasn’t apologized for 1.) keeping wet market open 2.) silencing whistleblower doctor that would have stopped a pandemic 3.) letting 5 million people leave Wuhan 4.) pressuring WHO to not recommend border shutdown against China - Conjecture 5.) silencing whistleblowers inside China and around the world 6.) at one point, was surfacing propagandas that the virus didn’t…

Got any info on point 6? Did they really start that rumor?

They have been telling their own people source of the virus is the US:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/world/asia/coronavirus-ch...

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#58

Post by holtalanm »

Traster wrote: post #28
beamatronic wrote: post #8

Why does anyone think these markets are okay?

Wet markets? Do you want to be able to go to a market and buy fresh fish? Do you think that's an option that should be available to you or to your favourite restaurant owner? Because if so, then well done, you're one of the people that think these markets are ok. Edit: Here's Gordon Ramsey giving you a guide on how to buy good fish (spoiler: he's at a wet market) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GTTXJKZ08Q

that isn't a wet market. apparently just regular food markets are considered wet markets by people that don't know what a wet market is.

those fish are DEAD.

one staple of a wet market is LIVE ANIMALS.

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#59

Post by cwzwarich »

ganoushoreilly wrote: post #9
mschuster91 wrote: post #2

I agree with the general aims of the article, but I doubt that the demand that the author makes - that China closes its wet markets - will be practically doable. With a billion people that have no reason to trust their government, it's going to be hard to convince them to drop what they and their families had learned with blood during the Mao-era famines.

It's also so perverse around the world. Until we can provide adequate non wet market food stores and supplies, most notably at affordable pricing for these often highly impoverished areas, there isn't much for change. Further it brings into question the items that are good or bad. Is "Racoon Dog" ok or not? Can they sell "Bats"? Then as you mention, people are going to stick to what they do. Good example, how many pe…

> Further it brings into question the items that are good or bad. Is "Racoon Dog" ok or not? Can they sell "Bats"?

As far as I understand things (which is only from reading articles and watching YouTube videos of people visiting these markets), most of the animals like bats, civets, pangolins, etc. that are implicated in zoonotic diseases are delicacies rather than staples. If they were banned, nobody would starve.

Re: Time to Ban Wet Markets

#60

Post by cageface »

enchiridion wrote: post #18
cageface wrote: post #10

Or just stop eating meat altogether. There are diseases and potent antibiotic resistant bugs brewing in our factory farms in the west too. None of this is necessary for human health or nutrition.

That's simply not true. My life has drastically improved since I reduced carbs and increased meat consumption. This is not anecdata either, there are well done studies supporting this.

Reducing processed carbs is a good idea. Complex whole carbs are fine and the foundation of the diets of the healthiest populations in the world.
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