Experts have found viruses that could spark 18 more pandemics like Covid 19 in animals currently being sold in wet markets in China.
A wet market is a place selling fresh meat, fish and produce in a non-supermarket setting - and they are common across China Covid-19 has been strongly linked to wet markets thanks to the close interaction between people and live animals.
Now a new study of viral pathogens in exotic animals sold as food in China found 71 mammalian viruses, 18 deemed 'potentially high risk' reports The Straits Times.
Co-author Edward Holmes, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Sydney, said: "This study highlights exactly why the wildlife trade and live animal markets are a pandemic accident waiting to happen.
"This paper also shows that humans regularly transmit their viruses to other animals. There's clearly two-way virus traffic."
The research showed cat-like carnivores Civets carried the most concerning microbes.
Professor Holmes added: "A further species jump from civets into humans could easily start a major outbreak.
