(CNN) In western markets, shoppers can buy beef, chicken, pork, and, if they're lucky, perhaps some duck or bison.

But the options in China can be a bit more exotic.

Vendors in small city markets often sell wild animals including rodents, yak, snakes and even porcupines, and experts say that makes them far more dangerous. The meat could contain deadly pathogens like the coronavirus.

This picture taken on January 15, 2020 shows a butcher selling yak meat at a market in Beijing.

Highlighting those fears, Chinese officials announced on Sunday that the trading of wild animals would be temporarily suspended in hopes that would help contain the outbreak.

Any businesses or operators found breaching the ban will be shut down and the ban will "not be lifted until the epidemic is declared over," a joint statement by three government agencies said, according to state-run news agency Xinhua . Serious violators will be handed over to police for criminal investigation, the statement added.

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