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Warning about the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans in China

Posted on 16 Month 04 2024

Animal protection organization Humane Society International (HSI, USA) is concerned about disease outbreaks at fur farms in China.

*A fur farm in Liaoning province, China REUTERS*

On April 15, Reuters cited research by Humane Society International (HSI, USA) expressing concern about the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans, after investigating 5 fur farms in China.

The study was conducted at the end of 2023 based on an investigation of fox, raccoon and mink farms in Hebei and Liaoning provinces. Each farm raises 2,000-4,000 chickens and has places to raise poultry near them.

Visiting professor Alastair MacMillan at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey (UK) said that high stocking density allows the virus to spread quickly through tiny droplets from one animal to another and is capable of spreading. to people.

"The rapid spread and mixing of different virus strains from one animal to another enables them to adapt to their mammalian hosts, developing worrying and potentially dangerous mutant strains. more likely to threaten infection to humans," according to Mr. MacMilan.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has not responded to a request for comment on conditions at fur farms and the risk of disease spread.

Mr. MacMillan said, from the perspective of disease transmission and public health, the above situation is extremely worrying because animals raised for fur are very susceptible to respiratory viruses that can infect humans.

Data from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic uploaded to a database by Chinese scientists last year showed that badgers may also be involved in the virus spreading to humans.

* SOURCE: https://thanhnien.vn/canh-bao-nguy-co-dich-benh-lay-tu-dong-vat-sang-nguoi-o-trung-quoc-185240415180856202.htm

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