Daszak said the project's research indicates we can expect around five new animal-borne pathogens to infect humanity each year. On Thursday, the southern province of Guangdong, a centre of rare-species consumption, said it was immediately halting trade in wild animals. Similar promises were made following SARS, yet conservationists say the trade continues, aided by loophole-riddled Chinese laws regarding many species, and episodic or just plain lax enforcement. - 'Difficult to stop' -Environmental groups say Chinese demand, fuelled by rising consumer buying power, is the biggest driver of the global bushmeat trade today. "Everyone wants to eat better, so there is a market for wild animals."

Source: Bangkok Post January 26, 2020 04:18 UTC