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WHO urges suspension of sale of live wild animals

''So it is quite a serious matter to try, as an emergency measure, to stop selling live wild animals in traditional food markets as a precautionary measure.”

The WHO and other international agencies have urged countries

to suspend the sale of live wild animals in food markets

warning they may be the source of 70% of infectious diseases

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WHO SPOKESWOMAN, FADELA CHAIB, SAYING:

“We issued hundreds of guidance since the beginning of COVID-19, so this is one of them. It's also important to know that most emerging infectious diseases have their origin in wild animals. And suspending unsafe sale of live mamals for food will reduce the chances of a virus spill over in the future. This is not a new recommendation, but COVID-19 has brought new attention to this threat given the magnitude of its consequences.”