PETA Urges World Health Organization to Close Live-Animal Markets to Prevent Further Pandemics

For Immediate Release:

25 March 2020

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

PETA URGES WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO CLOSE LIVE-ANIMAL MARKETS TO PREVENT FURTHER PANDEMICS

Group Launches Worldwide Push to Cut Deadly Animal-Borne Diseases Off at the Source

London – As COVID-19 continues to spread, international petitions have been launched by PETA and its affiliates to urge the World Health Organization (WHO) to call for the permanent closure of live-animal meat markets worldwide. In a letter to the director-general of the WHO, PETA US pointed out that markets crammed full of sick and stressed animals are breeding grounds for deadly diseases.

“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,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is urging the World Health Organization to take the common-sense step of calling for the closure of these dangerous operations.”

PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat” – notes that, in addition to carrying a high risk of contamination from pathogens, including E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella, meat contains no fibre and is packed with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol. Each person who goes vegan reduces their own risk of suffering from heart disease, obesity, cancer, strokes, and numerous other health concerns – and spares nearly 200 animals every year daily misery and a terrifying death. In today’s meat, egg, dairy, and fishing industries, piglets’ tails are clipped without painkillers, chickens’ throats are cut while they’re still conscious, cows are forcibly separated from their beloved calves, and fish are cut open while they’re still alive.

For more information, visit PETA.org.uk.

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