By Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz
Animal welfare advocates appealed to authorities on Wednesday to permanently close all live animal markets or “wet markets” across the Philippines, which are possible breeding grounds for deadly viruses.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) sent a letter of “urgent” appeal to the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday.
(Erwin Beleo / MANILA BULLETIN)
“It's a matter of when—not if—the next pandemic will occur, as long as live-animal markets are permitted to continue endangering both humans and other animals,” PETA senior vice president Jason Baker said.
“PETA is urging the Philippines to take the next logical step and close these dangerous operations,” he added.
While some live-animal markets in China have closed, which could be temporary, many continue to operate throughout Asia, including the Balintawak Public Market and Farmers' Market in Manila, PETA pointed out.
The group noted that deadly outbreaks of swine flu, avian flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome, human immunodeficiency virus, Ebola, hoof-and-mouth disease, mad cow disease, and other maladies have stemmed from capturing or farming animals for food.
It added that live-animal markets are perfect breeding grounds for diseases, which can jump from various other species to humans, since stressed, injured, and sickly animals are commonly caged in public areas and on sidewalks where feces, blood, and offal can contaminate buyers and sellers and be tracked into restaurants or homes.