Animal rights activists have urged the world to go vegan to avoid spreading dangerous viruses such as the new coronavirus.

People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) has made a plea to people across the globe following the outbreak of the SARS-like virus. 

Experts believe coronavirus was transmitted to humans by animals originating from a meat market in Wuhan, China. 

The market sold a huge selection of live, wild and exotic animals such as snakes, bats, koalas, wolf pups, pangolins, camels, foxes, badgers, bamboo rats, hedgehogs and reptiles.

“The virus, labeled 2019-nCoV, is similar to other infamous coronaviruses like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). All three spread from animals to humans,” PETA wrote.

The death toll from the virus is approaching 2,000 while more than 70,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in more than 30 countries. Many of the first people diagnosed were workers at the market.

Activists urged meat eaters to consider that consuming animals is not just a risk to their own health, but has potential implications for the entire human race. 

“For years now, scientists have warned that filthy farms crammed full of sick animals are breeding grounds for new, antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” Some studies claim that by 2050, more people will be dying from antibiotic-resistant diseases than from cancer,” PETA continued. 

Countries around the world are now battling to contain the virus and a vaccine is not expected to be ready for at least a year. 

PETA vented its frustration with the coronavirus outbreak which the group says was completely avoidable, and demanded people move away from animal products which will lead to ‘apocalyptic consequences’. 

“The World Health Organization states that processed meat causes cancer. Meanwhile, a vegan diet reduces the risk of many chronic degenerative diseases and conditions, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes,” the group said.

“We cannot expect to continue living on planet Earth if we continue to eat animals. It’s really that simple. The easiest thing that you can do for your own health and the world we live in is to go vegan right now and persuade everyone you know to do the same.”

• Read: WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a ‘global public health emergency’

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Oli Gross

Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation.

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