The Next Pandemic's Source

China might be taking action to close down the illegal wildlife trade, but other Asian nations appear willing to continue it.  Perhaps the next zoonotic derived pandemic will originate in Vietnam.  No matter where the transfer to humans occurs, Nigeria will most likely be the source of the wildlife that carries the disease.

Since scientists learned the coronavirus (Covid-19) might have origins with bats and potentially spread to humans through pangolins in a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, Chinese authorities have closed down or put under quarantine about 20,000 wildlife farms to curb wildlife trade. Vietnam is considering a similar ban.

This drastic action by China, the largest market of pangolin in East Asia is getting commendation globally from wildlife conservationists. However, they are concerned Nigeria, one of the largest pangolin trade hubs in Africa has not reacted to these reports. An investigation into pangolin trafficking found Nigeria was linked to 55% of pangolin scales seized global between 2016 and 2019.