China’s Latest Virus Outbreak Exposes Perils of Exotic Wildlife Trade

China’s Latest Virus Outbreak Exposes Perils of Exotic Wildlife Trade
A worker in a protective suit is seen at the closed seafood market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China on Jan. 10, 2020. Reuters
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SHANGHAI/BEIJING—A new coronavirus spreading from the city of Wuhan has put a spotlight on China’s poorly regulated wild animal trade—driven by relentless demand for exotic delicacies and ingredients for traditional medicine.

China’s markets, where wild and often poached animals are packed together, have been described as a breeding ground for disease and an incubator for a multitude of viruses to evolve and jump the species barrier to humans.