Liberal MP Tim Wilson says the World Health Organisation (WHO) needs to “take a very hard look at itself, its conduct and its contribution to this pandemic”. WHO has ignored calls from global leaders to ban wet markets in China after they were revealed as the likely cause of COVID-19. “I have very little faith in the Chinese communist party and my confidence in the world health organisation has been shattered as well,” Mr Wilson told Sky News. “People forget after the SARS crisis that the WHO went through significant review and reform to make sure the suppression of evidence of viruses coming out couldn’t happen again. “And frankly now it seems like that’s exactly what happened and the WHO has been delinquent in its duties.” While Australia was very much focused on domestic health and economic concerns, Mr Wilson said WHO needed to face consequences. “I have no doubt there will be a proper assessment and review,” he said. “I know in the US many senators are already talking about accountability measures for the WHO." Image: Getty

WHO has been 'delinquent in its duties' and must be held to account

Australia is on a collision course with the World Health Organisation (WHO) after the global authority said it would support reopening wet markets.

The devastating coronavirus is believed to have originated in the live animal market in Wuhan, China before the illness spread across the world, killing thousands.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the WHO’s support was “unfathomable”.

“I’m totally puzzled by this decision,” Mr Morrison told Nine.

“We need to protect the world against potential sources of outbreaks of these types of viruses. And look, it's happened too many times … We don't have them here in Australia. And I'm just puzzled by that decision.”

But Professor Christine Johnson, an epidemiologist at the University of California, told the ABC that China could manage the risks that come with live animal markets.

“Everything (the Chinese) put their mind to is absolutely possible. And I think we're in a new world now,” Prof Johnson said.

“This pandemic has changed all of our lives. I think it really underscores that there are actions we need to take, we don't want to sit around and wait for another pandemic to emerge. And our wellbeing is very closely linked to the wellbeing of animals on the planet and the biodiversity of ecosystems.”

The WHO said it did not support the closure of the markets “because they are a source of livelihood and food security to many people”.

Prof Johnson said there were animal species that should be banned from wet markets to prevent another pandemic from occurring.

“Obviously, some live animals are safer than others. Domesticated species have been sold in markets for centuries. Obviously, fish and vegetables don't pose the same risk,” she said.

“But for wildlife there are certain species, especially species of bats and primates that are especially high risk in these settings and there are issues of hygiene.

“The very dense, close proximity of many different wildlife species is very high risk.

“I think with public policy there needs to be careful consideration of regulations and how to implement and enforce regulations on wildlife trade.

“It is certainly an issue and we need to be careful that some of the poorest people in the world must have access to food, but we also need to be aware of the disease transmission.

“It is not just for the pandemics that can affect all of us but a lot of zoonotic diseases that are endemic are transmitted to the workers in the settings all of the time. So, for their own health and safety, I think careful regulation and hygiene and consideration of what species are dangerous need to be made.”

The 2002 SARS outbreak that killed thousands around the world with a virus similar to this year’s coronavirus was also a zoonotic disease – one passed from animals to humans.

Prof Johnson said a good start to making wet markets safer would be banning the sale of most species of primates and many species of bats.

Life in Wuhan is slowly returning to normal after coronavirus brought the city to its knees.

China continues to cautiously reopen activity in regions such as Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province that were shut down during the worst of the outbreak.



