Published
Monday, April 13, 2020
Myanmar public support closing wildlife markets over virus fears: survey
A staff member of the Yangon City Development Committee disinfects Pazontaung market, as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Yangon on March 21, 2020. Photo: Sai Aung Main/AFP
Myanmar public support closing wildlife markets over virus fears: survey
The majority of Myanmar people support shutting down wildlife markets to prevent another pandemic, an Asia-wide survey released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) indicates.
The majority of respondents in Myanmar said they believed the closure of illegal animal markets would prevent a similar crisis, according to WWF.
The regional survey was carried out to check on opinions on the controversial markets in light of the spread of COVID-19, which is suspected to have originated in a wet market in Wuhan, China, although this has not been confirmed.
Around 93 percent of all the respondents, including people in Myanmar, supported shutting down the wildlife markets.
