As the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections continues to rise, researchers are trying to decipher the origin of the new virus. A problem emerges that otherwise remains hidden.
Scientists worldwide are currently researching SARS-CoV-2. Her goal: to better understand the new virus in order to stop it from spreading and to develop drugs against it. The experts also want to find out how the virus broke out.
According to the Chinese government, the virus is said to be in a fish market for the first time Wuhan from animals to humans. It is suspected that bats had the virus in them and possibly transmitted it to humans via another animal, a so-called intermediate host.
“A large part of the diseases that occur are of animal origin. The environmental destruction and the illegal trade mean that people have much more and closer contact with wild animals,” explains Daniela Schrudde from the World Animal Protection Society in an interview with t-online.de. The veterinarian takes care of the rescue of smuggled wild animals such as pangolines.
The ugly images of the illegal and consequential machinations around pangolins were leaked to t-online.de. You can see the recordings above in our video or here.
Combat trade in wild animals sustainably
These pangolins could also have been a possible intermediate host for the new SARS-CoV-2 virus. Trading with them has long been prohibited. Because of the new virus outbreak, China now wants to take greater action against the trade and consumption of endangered animals.
The authorities behaved similarly in the SARS outbreak in 2002/2003. However, as the number of infections dropped, the strict requirements also disappeared. “But my impression is that this time the government and the population are more sensitized,” says Schrudde. “The decisive factor will be whether the structures that are now being built in China will also solidify,” says the veterinarian. Then the lessons from the virus outbreak could make a real difference for the pangolins and other wildlife.
More on how the novel Corona virus Above, what role the wildlife trade plays and how the pangolin suffer from it can be seen above or also here in our video.
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