This document proposes an action plan to regulate wildlife markets in response to COVID-19. It summarizes that COVID-19 originated from animal-human transmission and was first reported in Wuhan, China. Wet markets are a staple in many communities but wildlife markets pose higher risks. The proposed action plan includes sanitation measures, personal protective equipment, mandatory masks, pathogen testing, regulated animal housing and slaughter, job opportunities, and public education to increase safety while maintaining cultural traditions. The effects of this plan would be to provide a safer experience for all through revised wildlife market operations informed by One Health principles.
2. ● The COVID-19 pandemic is the most crucial global health crisis of the century because of the
viruses ability to spread rapidly
● COVID-19 has led to many global health, economic, environmental and social challenges
● The virus was first reported in humans in Wuhan, China
● Genetic sequence analyses show that the spillover was from an animal source to humans→
zoonotic disease.
INtroduction tocovid-19:
ORIGIN
3. Underlyingdrivers ofzoonoticdiseases (COVID-19)
● Human interference for land development (causing for example:
deforestation, modern agricultural industries, pollution)
● Creates negative impacts on the habitats of wildlife
● Different species tend to move closer to areas with people
● Many human practises involve the consumption, trade and transport
of wild animals at risk of containing pathogens → coronavirus.
4. ● Wet markets can be similarly compared to farmer’s markets.
● Wet markets are a staple destination for many, providing
affordable pricing for food products and a place for social
interactions.
● Wildlife markets, however, are the main cause for concern.
● Wildlife markets differ from wet markets.
● Wildlife markets are at a higher risk of transmitting infectious
diseases.
● Fully shutting down these markets is NOT the solution to solving
this problem.
WHATAREWETMARKETS &wildlifemarkets ANDHOWHAVETHEY
CONTRIBUTED TOTHECOVID-19PANDEMIC?
6. - Warehouse workers with proper PPE
- Sanitation in warehouse after each batch of
animals
- Mandatory masks
- Gloves recommended not
required
sellers Consumers
Sanitationandsafety measures
ONEmETER
8. ● Human Involvement
○ Increase jobs and provide better safety
● Animal Awareness
○ Proper housing and slaughtering methods
● Environmental Factors
○ No illegal animals
OneHealth
Principles
9. ● Animals are often sold without consent from authorities in these wildlife
markets
● These animals contribute to the zoonotic infectious diseases
● Regulating new rules and educating the public about the risks associated
with consuming exotic animals can spread awareness
● The public should also be educated on the low risk animals that may not carry
pathogens too
Theeffects ofouractionplan&
Educatingthepublic
10. THEEFFECTS OFOURACTIONPLANFOR THEWILDLIFE MARKET
● This plan can be utilized as a template to reorganize the current
wildlife market layout.
● This blueprint can be followed by various countries to ensure that
proper safety measures are followed.
● Our plan considers the importance of cultural identity that these
wildmarkets portray.
● Wildlife markets will NOT be shut down, however, the revisions that
we have made will provide a safer experience for all those involved!
For our action plan to reduce the possibility of a pandemic again, we have created a blueprint that establishes safety precautions in these wildlife markets. This layout is what we believe, the safest possible way to house these animals, and test them for pathogens before being sold to the public. On the left we have a typical wildlife market that has been modified to accommodate the safety of the public as well as the animals being sold in each area. As we have heard, pathogens can spread from animal to animal and then animal to human when in close proximity or the animal being consumed. That is why we have included on the right, a closed off testing centre and slaughter house. Here is where the animals will be brought, housed in appropriate cages, tested for pathogens and then slaughtered if passed the pathogen testing.
For these revised wildlife markets from our plan, we think that sanitation is a very important factor to consider. The wildlife markets need to be sanitized on a regular basis to limit the transmission of future infections. Creating a more cleanly and organized layout by separating different food products in different areas will decrease the spread of pathogens from product to product and animal to humans. The cleaning of these markets can lead to an increase in job opportunities for those who want to assist and maintain the cleanliness of the markets for future prevention of rapid disease spread. When slaughtering animals and preparing them for consumption by the public, many personal protective equipment must be worn to protect both the vendors and the consumers. These include hazmat suits, masks, and gloves for vendors and masks and gloves for customers. Viral pathogens can also transfer from animal to animal. In our action plan each animal will be housed in an enclosed cage so no pathogens can be spread when in closer proximity.
As said previously, if animal habitats are disrupted or destroyed, they tend to move closer to urban areas. In some cultures, if bats or other animals are found in or around the home, consumption of these animals is normal. However, this could be putting the safety of their family at risk. This is why the other part of our action plan will include at home testing kits for pathogens to ensure the safety of citizens before consuming animals captured personally rather than being bought from the local market.
When discussing the one health principle which include human involvement, environmental factors and animal awareness. This warehouse attached to the wildlife markets will increase jobs and improve/prevent the spread of a possible viral pathogen. The animals will be housed properly and without negative impacts such as animal abuse. By reducing the amount of illegal animals that are sold in these wildlife markets, we are able to maintain the environment by letting these animals stay in their natural habitats without being distributed..We understand this could be costly but this money being implemented into these testing centres is a short term problem for a long term solution.
