The #WHO is currently exploring the possibility that #China’s wildlife farms may be at the origin of the #COVID-19 #pandemic. Others have more specifically suggested that the country’s lucrative fur industry is a likely source.
Mink, the #animals most widely-bred for their fur, are especially susceptible to contracting the disease and are the only species known to infect humans. #Coronavirus cases have been reported across hundreds of European mink farms.
The European and North American fur industries have been on the decline for years, with a number of major companies going bust. The mass culling of mink to stave off the spread of the virus in #Europe and the resulting bans on fur #production have hit the industry hard.
Despite the risks posed by mink farming, China has done little to regulate its fur industry, which is the world’s largest. In fact, Chinese producers are making the most of the global fall in production and rising prices.
Concerted efforts by lobbyists to rebrand the company as sustainable, and the recent announcement of a new mink vaccine may be sufficient to rescue Europe’s fur trade unless action is taken to shut it down for good.
The risk of recurring pandemics in the near future remains high so long as toxic industries such as factory #farming and the #fur trade continue to exist.

https://corporatewatch.org/animal-farming-covid-19-from-chinas-wildlife-trade-to-the-european-fur-industry/ #capitalism #usa #sars #mers #biology #greenwashing #lobbyism