Coronavirus 2019-2020 thread (no unsubstantiated rumours!)

[broadsword]

So ? If I can identify a certain strain of flu that originates from a singular source then the chances of isolating and preventing the spread increases dramatically, you are equating the common cold to this new and novel strain, pun not intended which is erroneous to the extreme.

It does not matter now if the flu could be tracked to the original source as the wildlife meat as sold as-is is a hotbed of viral life. A blanket ban on them is the way to go.

 

[Deleted member 13312]

That will be way to deal with, but just like drug taking, consumption is reduced and that means exposure is also reduced.

Yeah right and when the next outbreak comes along you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be much much worse because in that scenario people will actively avoid going to the authorities for help. Can't you see that ?

 

[Deleted member 13312]

It does not matter now if the flu could be tracked to the original source as the wildlife meat as sold as-is is a hotbed of viral life. A blanket ban on them is the way to go.

No a blanket ban is just going to sweep it under the rug, out of sight and out of mind but certainly not out of danger.

 

[Deleted member 13312]

There was a ban, but the Chinese authority relax it. Your second point nails it --- what I meant. It has to be a blanket ban. Abstention will lead to a new lifestyle/habit.

Which is a smart thing cause they most likely knew that banning it does not make people stop eating them, but that they stopped short was creating a procedure in which wildlife meat can be safely procured and eaten.

 

[broadsword]

No a blanket ban is just going to sweep it under the rug, out of sight and out of mind but certainly not out of danger.

No, unless there is no proper enforcement. If enforcement is serious, there will be less exposure.

 

[Deleted member 13312]

No, unless there is no proper enforcement. If enforcement is serious, there will be less exposure.

Yeah sure lets just station a police at every house in every village where a species is endemic just so they can walk in and see what they are cooking in their pots.
Proper enforcement is nothing more than a pipe dream especially when it comes to a species which is local to the area.

 

[broadsword]

Which is a smart thing cause they most likely knew that banning it does not make people stop eating them, but that they stopped short was creating a procedure in which wildlife meat can be safely procured and eaten.

Wildlife meat can never be safely procured and eaten because having such a great variety is going to overburden the system. More standards, inspection and certiification.

There will be more illegal suppliers who bypass the system by catching from the wild.

 

[broadsword]

Yeah sure lets just station a police at every house in every village where a species is endemic just so they can walk in and see what they are cooking in their pots.
Proper enforcement is nothing more than a pipe dream especially when it comes to a species which is local to the area.

You know that's not possible just like it is not possible to stop everyone from smoking pot. But it is all about lessening exposure.

 

[Blitzo]

I will say that a blanket ban NOW with the current demand for wildlife products still in vogue in China is going to do more harm then good. Which I think does not fit either of your scenarios though it does drifts towards the latter.
This whole reaction was born out of the fact that unregulated wildlife products makes for a perfect vector of disease, an abrupt ban in the wake of this tragedy is only going to drive the activities away from places where we can effectively monitor and control it.

I don't think this entire reaction was merely because unregulated wildlife products were a vector of disease, but that there has been an growing changing mood in Chinese society towards whether certain animal products (not just wildlife) should be consumed in general.

This particular epidemic just happened to paint more of a spotlight and accelerate people's attitudes on it.



Now, you are correct that a blanket ban without any other supportive measures may not be wholly effective in curbing consumption of various animal products, but I also don't think that a blanket ban is something to fear simply because it might drive some activity underground where it is harder to regulate.

IMO the net effect of banning certain products and the stigma associated with it and the actual legal and prosecutory processes involved in enforcing the law can produce a significant net positive, especially if paired with public education and PR campaigns to change societal attitudes.

 

[Deleted member 13312]

You know that's not possible just like it is not possible to stop everyone from smoking pot. But it is all about lessening exposure.

Again, lessening exposure is going to be moot if people are going to actively try to hide the fact that they doing something illegal.