In what could be a positive new step towards tackling future pandemics, the Prime Minister of Vietnam has introduced stronger controls on the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife, says WWF.
COVID-19 is just the latest in a long line of zoonotic diseases, which jump from animals to humans, according to a statement from WWF.
Vietnam has now taken action to help stop people coming into contact with wildlife that have a high risk of spreading disease.
This includes the closure of illegal wildlife markets and wild meat shops and restaurants, together with stricter controls of farmed wild animals.
If properly implemented, the measures could also help to protect sustainable livelihoods within many communities and safeguard a variety of endangered animals such as tigers and elephants, writes the statement.
WWF Director General Marco Lambertini said: “We must urgently recognize the links between the destruction of nature and human health, or we will soon see the next pandemic. We must work with nature, not against it.”
Photo: imago stock&people
