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A vegan has been slammed after he claimed coronavirus would not exist if the world was vegan.

The Facebook user Earthling Ed blamed meat-eaters for the crisis in a Facebook post that has gone viral in the past 48 hours.

The activist also posted a link to a World Health Organization paper defining the virus as a 'zoonotic disease', which means it was passed from an animal to a human, to support his claim.

He shared a picture stating: "Covid-19 started because we eat animals.

"Ebola, swine flu, bird flu, HIV, SARS and vCJD started because we eat and exploit animals.

"Covid-19 would not exist if the world was vegan.

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"Your personal choice to eat animals impacts every living being on this planet."

Earthling Ed added: "If you’re stockpiling toilet roll, yet also buying bacon, then you’re part of the problem."

However, the vegan was chastised by other Facebook users, who hammered him for being insensitive and politicising the crisis.

Mayo Thiesen wrote: "So in the second link it says it‘s transmitted via bats and it‘s zoonotic.

(Image: Getty)

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"Nowhere does it say it‘s transmitted by eating animals. Your picture shows a false statement and even though I agree with the sentiment, go vegan, in my opinion, misinformation doesn’t help the cause."

Another Facebook user added: "Seeing as this particular virus is mainly carried in bats, and bats aren't typically farmed for food, the opening statement to this post is a fallacy."

Hannah Lee also criticised the vegan's post, claiming he was spreading 'untruths'.

She said: "These viruses existed BEFORE humans came in contact with them. Humans coming in contact with the animals, through faeces, discharge, mucus can pass it on. This process is ZOONOSIS."

Others asked for scientific proof of the virus being caused by humans eating animals.

However, some supported the activist's claim that coronavirus would not exist if the world was vegan.

Heather McCall wrote: "Thank you Earthling Ed! If this doesn't kill us it is certainly a lesson for those still exploiting beings."