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WHO calls for stricter regulations on wet markets
Wet markets are a common sight throughout Asia.
Born Free welcomes call to enforce bans of the sale and trade of wildlife.

World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for 'stringent food safety standards' when wet markets are allowed to open again.

Speaking at a COVID-19 briefing on Friday (17 April), he also said that governments must rigorously enforce bans on the sale and trade of wildlife for food.

It is a widely-held belief that the COVID-19 crisis originated in a wet market in Wuhan, China. Wet markets are a common sight throughout Asia, selling an array of fresh produce, meat and sometimes live animals.

BBC News reports that the WHO is working with UN bodies to develop guidance on the safe operation of wet markets, which are a vital source of income and affordable food for millions of people. In many places, however, wet markets are poorly regulated and maintained.

"WHO's position is that when these markets are allowed to reopen it should only be on the condition that they conform to stringent food safety and hygiene standards," said Dr Tedros. "Governments must rigorously enforce bans on the sale and trade of wildlife for food."

He continued: "Because an estimated 70 per cent of all new viruses come from animals, we also work together closely [with the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, of the United Nations] to understand and prevent pathogens crossing from animals to humans."

As the COVID-19 death toll continues to rise, there have been growing calls for a global ban on wet markets because of their potential to spread disease. Among these include international Animal welfare charity Born Free, which is calling on the WHO for a more robust position and further clarity on bans.

“Born Free welcomes the statement from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), urging Governments to rigorously enforce bans on the sale and trade of wildlife for food in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Born Free's head of policy, Dr Mark Jones.

“However, if we are to prevent future pandemics, we must go much further and implement the kind of transformative changes to our relationship with wildlife that will truly start to heal the damage we are causing to the planet’s biodiversity.

“We, therefore, urge the WHO to work alongside governments and other intergovernmental organisations to ban wildlife markets and bring an end to the commercial wildlife trade, alongside intensive and rigorous enforcement and measures to protect and enhance wildlife habitats, so as to halt and reverse the devastating declines in the natural world that have brought a million species to the brink of extinction and threaten the future of wildlife and humanity alike.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.