Chinese residents ‘ordered to cull pets amid fears they may spread coronavirus’
1 Feb 2020
~未曾看見有相關中文報導,有只是之前北京的限狗令和上星期主人誤信謠言將貓狗從樓上掉下的新聞,而文內説的命令是指個别城市和省份。~對寵物來説這實在是無妄之災,即使是個别地區的寵物限足令,狗狗也很無辜被逼不能出外放溜。
Chinese residents have reportedly been warned to get rid of their pets or face having them culled over concerns they could contract coronavirus. Local authorities across a number of provinces have supposedly taken the drastic step after coming under pressure from higher-ups to do more to tackle the epidemic. Villagers in Hubei were urged to ‘deal with’ furry companions within five days, while residents in Shanxi were handed notices asking them to ‘consider the overall situation’ and dispose of cats and dogs immediately. China’s top infectious diseases expert warned pets would need to be quarantined if exposed to patients, but the World Health Organisation claims it has seen no evidence animals can catch it.
One neighbourhood in Wuhan – the epicentre of the virus which has so far killed 259 and infected around 12,000 – residents have reportedly been banned from letting animals leave their homes.
They have also been warned by officials that any spotted outside would be caught, killed and buried on the spot. Animal welfare group Humane Society International (HSI) claim similar warnings have been issued in other provinces across the country, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Hebei and Shanghai.
Dr Peter Li, China Policy Specialist at HIS, told MailOnline: ‘This is not the right approach for local authorities in China to deal with the national crisis that can be traced to China’s out-of-control wildlife trade. ‘Companion animals did not contribute to the outbreak of SARS in 2002-2003. They do not have anything to do with the Wuhan epidemic.’
He added that trying to enforce such orders might actually hamper the fight against the outbreak by ‘pulling much needed efforts and resources away from the real battleground’.
Earlier this week Professor Li Lanjuan, a senior expert in China’s National Health Commission, issued a warning that coronavirus ‘spreads between mammals’. She told state broadcaster CCTV that ‘pet owners should strengthen their management of their pets’ and advised animals ‘should be put in quarantine’ if they come into contact with anyone infected. An online vendor based in Beijing told MailOnline sales for special face masks for dogs had skyrocketed ten-fold since the outbreak.
Experts have confirmed it started at a wholesale market in Wuhan, with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention saying tests humans caught it from animals being offered sale.
It is still unclear which animal carried the virus, but the market was home to stalls selling processed meat alongside live consumable animals including koalas, camels and reptiles.
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