Wet Markets Research Articles

Presence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) of Escherichia coli isolated from cloacal swab of broilers in several wet markets in Surabaya, Indonesia

Abstract. Effendi MH, Tyasningsih W, Yurianti YA, Rahmahani J, Harijani N, Plumeriastuti H. 2021. Presence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) of Escherichia coli isolated from cloacal swab of broilers in several wet markets in Surabaya, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 304-310. The purpose of this research was to identify multidrug resistance (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) of Escherichia coli from cloacal swab of broiler chicken in several wet markets in Surabaya. This study used 60 broiler chicken samples, with cloacal swab method. The samples were isolated and identified to find Escherichia coli with several procedures, MacConckey Agar (MCA), Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMBA), Gram staining, indole test, Methyl Red-Voges Proskauer (MR-VP), citrate, and Triple Sugar Iron Agar (TSIA). Antibiotic sensitivity test was tested by using Kirby-Bauer (Disc Diffusion Method) with antibiotics: Aztreonam, Gentamicin, Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline, and Ciprofloxacin. From research, it can be illustrated that the isolates resistant to antibiotic Ciprofloxacin were 67% and Tetracycline was 65%. Total 97% isolates were found sensitive for Aztreonam, 73% for Chloramphenicol, and 55% for Gentamicin. Twelve isolates identified for MDR and two were ESBL. It can be explained that broiler chicken from wet market should be considered as a source of transmission for MDR and ESBL of E. coli to the public health.

Recent Development in Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a transmissible disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The primary clinical expression of COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness with interstitial and alveolar pneumonia. The virus originated in late 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The infectious agent, based upon genetic studies is of zoonotic origin and spread in the local population possibly through community spread by persons shopping at wet animal market, where live wild game is sold. The rapid spread of COVID-19 led it to be declared a global pandemic by the WHO. As of September 21, 2020, 30,675,675 cummulative cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide with 954,417 cumulative deaths. The diagnosis of COVID-19 is based primarily on epidemiological factors, clinical symptoms, and laboratory testing techniques such as hemography, chest computed tomography, and virologic examination. To date, there are no clinically approved vaccines or antiviral drugs available for use against COVID-19. Nevertheless, in clinical trials, a few broad-spectrum antiviral drugs as well as repurposed drugs approved for other indications have been assessed against COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the epidemiology, symptoms, transmission, pathogenesis of the COVID-19, with emphasis on current progress in rapid diagnosis and treatment options.

Impacts of Wet Market Modernization Levels and Hygiene Practices on the Microbiome and Microbial Safety of Wooden Cutting Boards in Hong Kong.

Accessing food through wet markets is a common global daily occurrence, where fresh meat can be purchased to support an urbanizing world population. Similar to the wet markets in many other metropolitan cities in Asia, Hong Kong wet markets vary and are characterized by differing hygiene routines and access to essential modern technologies. The lack of risk assessments of food contact surfaces in these markets has led to substantial gaps in food safety knowledge and information that could help improve and maintain public health. Microbial profiling analyses were conducted on cutting boards that had been used to process pork, poultry, and seafood at 11 different wet markets. The markets differed in hygiene protocols and access to modern facilities. Irrespective of whether wet markets have access of modern infrastructure, the hygiene practices were largely found to be inefficient based on the prevalence of bacterial species typically associated with foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter fetus, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus; indicator organisms such as Escherichia coli; as well as nonfoodborne pathogenic bacterial species potentially associated with nosocomial infections, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. Other Vibrio species, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus, typically associated with contaminated raw or undercooked seafood with the potential to cause illness in humans, were also found on wooden cutting boards. This study indicated that the hygienic practices used in Hong Kong wet markets are not sufficient for preventing the establishment of spoilage or pathogenic organisms. This study serves as a basis to review current hygiene practices in wet markets and provides a framework to reassess existing safety protocols.

How the zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2 ensure its survival as a human disease.

In December 2019, a new species of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in a number of patients presenting with pneumonias of unknown aetiology in WuHan Province, China. Early epidemiological indications were of a zoonotic origin: many of the initial patients confirmed contact with a local wet market and the genomic sequencing showed similar characteristics with coronaviruses known to be carried by bats. The theory of subsequent human to human transmission became evident once global epidemiological reporting of COVID infection was established. Confirmation of the origins of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 was enabled by the early sharing of the initial genomic sequence by China in January 2020 and since developed collaboratively on a globally accessible database, supported by the World Health Organization (https://tinyurl.com/rj32fp3).

On the Scene of Zoonotic Intimacies

Abstract COVID-19, like HIV/AIDS before it, is being allegorized as a cost of perverse intimacies with nature. This essay surveys three scenes of intimate zoonotic exchange—the jungle, the wet market, and the pork plant—and maps how each contributes to the operation of racial capitalism.

CURRENT SCENARIO OF THE PANDEMIC COVID-19: AN OVERVIEW

The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 is an emerging disease with deadly consequences, extended its stride over the globe commenced from the epicenter, Wuhan wet market, China led to declare globally as pandemic disease. Several non-specific features of the disease like prolonged incubation period, asymptomatic yet contagious, longer illness duration, and conveyance post clinical recovery feature makes prevention difficult and is the key reason for its rapid spread across the world. Covid-19 shows varied manifestations with the majority of reported cases having mild or even no symptoms. However, the infection led to a destructive footprint in the pulmonary system, specifically, lungs are most prone to damage, making them incapable of conducting respiratory functions and thus, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ dysfunction, and loss of life. Up to the present, there is no worldwide-approved treatment for COVID-19 and only repurposed drugs are employed for the hospitalized patient, necessitating an urgent need to develop effective therapeutics. Hence, effective control of disease spread through screening and isolation of contacts is crucial in the community. The contagion effect of the COVID-19 outbreak has brought major challenges to health systems as well as global economy worldwide. Development of rapid diagnostic test and effective vaccine as well as minimizing the exposure of the human population to possible animal reservoirs is measures needed to curb future impact. The outbreak of SARS-CoV in 2003 followed by MERS-CoV within a decade, indicates the threat of novel infectious diseases resulting from RNA viruses, will continue to present a serious global health threat, as epitomized by COVID-19. Therefore, this review is attempting to provide an overview of the current scenario of COVID-19 in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, especially focusing on public health impact.

Biological Hazard on Multidrug Resistance (MDR) of Escherichia Coli Collected From Cloacal Swab of Broiler Chicken on Wet Markets Surabaya

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the multidrug resistance (MDR) profile of Escherichiacoli from broiler chicken from Wonokromo Market and Tambahrejo Market Surabaya to some antibioticgroups, namely streptomycin, levofloxacin, cefotaxime, trimethoprim and chloramphenicol.Materials and Methods: Seventy samples were taken from Wonokromo market and Tambahrejo market,each of which had thirty-five samples. Sampling was used cloaca swab technique. Then inoculated on EosinMethylene Blue Agar (EMBA) media, purification of bacteria on EMBA media, and tested biochemicallywith Sulfide Indol Motility (SIM) and Triple Sugar Iron Agar (TSIA) media.Antibiotic sensitivity test was used the Kirby-Bauer method. Muller-Hinton Agar (MHA) media incubation.Then the inhibition zone was measured according to the Clinical and Labortary Standard Institute (CLSI)standards. Detect positive multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria characterized by resistance to ?3 types ofantibiotics.Results: Detection results of Escherichia coli multidrug resistance (MDR) at Wonokromo market was85.7%, and at Tambahrejo market was 51.4%. Presumptive Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL)producing E. coli at Wonokromo market was 14.3% and at Tambahrejo market was 2.9%.Conclusion: The high level of MDR of Escherichia coli from cloacal swabs of broiler chicken was a threatto public health and the environment, and is an important concern to reduce the rate of its spread

Alternative Medicines in Covid 19 – A Review

Emerging in China in late 2019, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection epidemic is growingrapidly and new cases are reported around the world. The first cases were linked to a wet market, andsubsequently, the virus has spread rapidly in China through human-to-human transmission, and the universalimpact of the COVID-19 virus is now spreading worldwide. The disease originated from COVID19 is a typeof viral pneumonia that is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Currently, no clinically approved antiviral drugs have been introduced for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Identifyingthe mechanism of action of the virus and its interaction with the immune system will help prevent and treatthe disease.There are various researches and studies reporting the use and effect of AYUSH in SARS-CoVtreatment. This review article gives a detailed overview of alternative treatment modalities for COVID 19.

Statistical Analysis and Prediction of COVID-19 outbreak in India using Machine Learning

Coronavirus disease globally known as COVID-19 is triggered by SARS-COV2. It is the predominant cause of an extremely dangerous disease that has bothered global health security. It is proposed that COVID-19 might be zoonotically based on the high number of people exposed in Wuhan City, China, to the wet animal market[1]. COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory disease, transmitted by respiratory secretions and communication paths, as of WHO reports. The disease is spreading throughout the world at a faster pace. The first instance of COVID-19 was firstly discovered and found in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019[1]. This paper analyses the outbreak of this disease until June 22, 2020, for India and other top major affected nations and also predictions were made regarding the number of cases for India over the next 17 days i.e from 23 June 2020 to 9 July 2020. Linear Regression model, Support Vector Machine Regressor (SVM) model, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model and Facebook's Prophet model were used for prediction based on the Kaggle downloaded dataset with data collected from January 22, 2020, to June 22, 2020. By 22 June 2020, the disease has spread across more than 200 countries, reporting 12,322 confirmed cases, 45,26,333 recovered cases and 4,72,171 COVID-19 deaths. Assessment of this epidemic allows the Government to take the appropriate steps to curb the threat of this global pandemic.

Identification of twenty-five mutations in surface glycoprotein (Spike) of SARS-CoV-2 among Indian isolates and their impact on protein dynamics

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, is an RNA virus that has inherent high rate of mutation. Due to the mutations, the virus evolves at a rapid pace that helps them to survive better inside the host. One of the hotspots of pharmacological interventions is to inhibit binding of virus with the host cells, which is mediated by Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 receptors present on the human cells. This study was conducted with an aim to identify and characterise the mutation (s) present in the Spike glycoprotein of the SARS-CoV-2. Towards this, an in silico methodology was used, and the mutations on Spike glycoprotein were identified by comparing the Spike glycoprotein of first reported sequence from Wuhan wet seafood market virus with the available sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from Indian isolates. Our analysis revealed the presence of twenty-five mutations in Spike glycoprotein among Indian SARS-CoV-2 isolates. These mutations spread all over the protein and can be clustered at least into four distinct positions. Further, mutations at eleven positions exhibited alterations in the secondary structure of the polypeptide chain. We also investigated the influence of these mutations on overall protein dynamics and have shown that they affect the dynamic stability of the Spike glycoprotein.

Public Awareness for Antimicrobial Resistance from Escherichia coli Isolated from Beef Sold on Several Wet Market in Surabaya, Indonesia

Objective: This study aims to phenotypically identify and confirm the presence of multi-drug resistant(MDR) and Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Producing Escherichia coli in the swab surfacesamples of beef using VITEK-2 method.Materials and Methods: Swab samples were taken from five wet markets: Pucang market, Wonokromomarket, Keputran market, Pabean market, and Manukan market; 10 swab samples of beef were collected fromeach market. Then, isolation and identification in terms of bacteria using selective media and biochemicaltest were conducted. Resistance testing using disc diffusion method was performed on 6 types of antibiotics:Ampicillin, Cefazolin, Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Tetracyclin. Positive isolates resistant to ? 2types of Beta-Lactam antibiotics using disc diffusion method then were tested using VITEK-2 method.Results: Positive samples containing Escherichia coli are found in 29 samples out of 50 swab samples. Ofthe 29 Escherichia coli isolates, 17 isolates are found resistant to the disc diffusion method. After testingthose 17 isolates using VITEK-2 method, 5% (1/17) of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli are obtainedwhich is resistant to all Beta-Lactam antibiotics. Besides, this study also reveals that 35% (6/17) of theEscherichia coli are positive multidrug resistance. Those E.coli MDR are found to be resistant towardsantibiotic class Beta-Lactams, Aminoglycoside, Quinolon, and Sulfonamida.Conclusion: This study has encouraged the need for public awareness for the understanding that beeffrom wet market can be potential as reservoir to spread multi-drug resistant bacteria that can cause healthproblems in humans.

Epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Ethiopia.

coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness which epidemiologically linked to the seafood and wet animal wholesale market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since there is paucity of research on characteristics and treatment outcomes of COVID-19, the finding of this study will helps to provide insight for the effectiveness of measures to fight against coronavirus disease in resource-limited countries. a retrospective review of released data about cases in daily bases and documents from Ethiopian public health institute website. In this article, we included and analyzed data of cases from 13 March to 13 May 2020 which were available at the time of the review. a total of 263 cases were included (median age, 34 years [range, 0.9-85 years]; 76% male). COVID-19 cases among age group 15-24 years and 25-34 years were 92(35%) and 76(28.9%) respectively. More than half (55.5%) of cases had travel history abroad and African countries are the leading 64(24.3%). About 167(63.5%) cases were identified based on symptom-based surveillance and the finding confirmed an interrupted kind of epidemiological curve. Whereas, one-third (41.1%) were recovered and the overall case fatality rate was 1.9%. Four out of five patients in ICU were deceased after 2-6days spent in critical care. an integrated action includes the provision of health education to youths, taking measures to rise up treatment outcomes, enhancing ICU care quality. Moreover, tightening prevention and restriction measures to flattening the curve and also establishment of fast detection and advanced treatment of cases were critically requires through the patriotic efforts of frontline health workers, leaders, and stakeholders.

Variety of radiological findings in a family with COVID-19: a case report

IntroductionIn December 2019, a case series of pneumonia associated with seafood and wet animal market was reported as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China. The COVID-19 less frequently affects the pediatric group, and asymptomatic children are commonly reported. This feature is important due to the potential transmissibility of COVID-19 through these cases. There is a variety of atypical clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations among children infected with COVID-19.Case presentationWe report two sisters with COVID-19 pneumonia who had close contact with their 77-year-old grandmother. Their grandmother expired with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The older sister (15 years old) firstly presented with severe cough, fever, dyspnea, diarrhea, and lymphopenia. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed atypical lobar pneumonic infiltration only in the left lower lobe. The younger sister (6 years old) was affected the following day with milder symptoms (i.e., fever and cough). Her chest CT scan demonstrated typical mild generalized patchy ground-glass opacity with interlobular septal thickening scattered in both lungs. The CT presentation of their grandmother showed typical bilateral white lungs with crazy paving appearance. The standard regimen for both sisters was administrated, and the patients’ respiratory conditions improved after 5 days of treatment. Both cases were discharged with good general conditions.ConclusionChildren are considered potentially important causes of COVID-19 transmission. The symptoms in children are milder, and clinicians should be aware of taking a definite history of infected family members. Atypical clinical symptoms and imaging features are more common in children than adults; therefore, it is necessary to identify the typical and atypical imaging patterns of COVID-19 pneumonia in the pediatric population.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Food Safety Perceptions—A Choice-Based Willingness to Pay Study

As the COVID-19 pandemic brings about sudden change in societies across the globe and likely heralds the start of a recession, we examine the pandemic’s impact on consumer food safety perceptions. Due to its origin, COVID-19, likely spurring from an animal-to-human transmission in the context of a wet market, may impact consumer food perceptions in similar ways to the avian flu (H5N1) and the swine flu (H1N1). We examine this effect by studying preferences for beef meat in a consumer survey in the United States (n = 999) using a choice-based experiment. We compare our findings to Lim et al. (2014), who elicited consumer beef willingness to pay (WTP). Additionally, we investigate the impact of the looming recession by analyzing several attributes and their effect on consumer preferences. Our findings suggest that food safety concerns have become more important. As a result, production standards and the country of origin have lost importance. Additionally, we show that the socioeconomic impact for some respondents impacts their shopping preferences. Finally, we outline potential areas for future research as well as managerial implications.

COVID-19 infection-update

Ende Dezember 2019 wurden mehrere Fälle schwerer Lungenentzündungen in der chinesischen Provinz Hubei beobachtet. Fast alle Erkrankten hatten Kontakt zum Markt für Fische und Meeresfrüchte, der als der primäre Infektionsort vermutet und am 01.01.2020 geschlossen wurde. Die späteren Untersuchungen der chinesischen Gesundheitsbehörde bestätigten, dass es sich bei dem Erreger um ein bis dahin unbekanntes Coronavirus SARS-CoV‑2 (2019-nCoV) aus der Familie der Coronaviridae handelte. Die Erkrankung wurde dann als COVID-19 bezeichnet und breitete sich rasant zunächst in Asien und später dann weltweit aus. Im März 2020 wurde die COVID-19-Infektion als Pandemie von der Weltgesundheitsorganisation eingestuft. Zum Zeitpunkt der Manuskripterstellung sind weltweit mehr als 20 Mio. Menschen mit dem Virus infiziert mit mehr als 500.000 Toten.Dieser Artikel gibt eine allgemeine Übersicht über die neuartige COVID-19-Erkrankung mit einem Fokus auf vaskuläre Beteiligung. Die Arbeit basiert im Wesentlichen auf Daten aus der jüngsten Literatur und auf Eigenerfahrungen der Autoren.

Analysis of Stress, Anxiety and Depression of Children during COVID-19

Coronavirus is believed to have originated from a wet market in Wuhan, China, and has spread all over the world, resulting in a large number of hospitalizations and deaths. Social scientists are just beginning to understand its consequences on human behavior. One policy that public health officials put in place to help stop the spread of the virus were stay-at-home/shelter-in-place lockdown-style orders.Schools, Colleges and Universities across the country have now been shut down till now due to Covid-19. Some Governments in India impose lockdown to reduce the crises created by this unknown virus. It is now difficult to make final assessments by school, school leaving examinations and entrance tests for undergraduate and post-graduate courses. This disruption implies for students across the socio-economic spectrum, both in terms of learning outcomes, food and economic security. Here the aim is to discuss the implications of lockdown-induced in schools in both urban and rural areas in India. The whole world implemented a nationwide lockdown to curb the transmission of the virus. A survey was over Five hundred families to complete a questionnaire with questions around symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and family affluence. The humans who do not have enough supplies to sustain the lockdown were most affected Families with affluence were found to be negatively correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Stress, anxiety, and depression more than others are seen in students and healthcare professionals. The main aim of the paper is to find out how symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress on parents due to COVID-19.

How the Media Places Responsibility for the COVID-19 Pandemic-An Australian Media Analysis.

Global pandemics are likely to increase in frequency and severity, and media communication of key messages represents an important mediator of the behavior of individuals in response to public health countermeasures. Where the media places responsibility during a pandemic is therefore important to study as blame is commonly used as a tool to influence public behavior but can also lead to the subjective persecution of groups. The aim of this paper is to investigate where the media places responsibility for COVID-19 in Australia. Specifically, we identify the key themes and frames that are present and observe how they changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to government actions and progression of the pandemic. Understanding media representations of the COVID-19 pandemic will provide insights into ways in which responsibility is framed in relation to health action. Newspaper articles from the Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald were sampled between January 20 and March 31 2020 on every second Monday. Factiva was used to identify and download newspaper articles using the following search criteria: “COVID-19” OR coronavirus OR “Wuhan virus” OR “corona virus” OR “Hebei virus” OR “wet market” OR (Wuhan AND virus) OR (market AND Wuhan and virus) or (China AND Virus) or (Novel AND Virus). Articles were imported into Nvivo and thematic and framing analyses were used. The results show that framing of the pandemic was largely based on societal issues with the theme of economic disruption prevalent throughout the study time period. Moral evaluations of the pandemic were infrequent initially but increased co-incident with the first signs of “flattening of the curve.” Explicit examples of blame were very rare but were commonly implied based on the causal origin of the virus. The Australian printed media were slow to report on the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition they were reluctant to apportion blame until the end of the study period, after confirmed case rates had begun to slow. This is interpreted as being due to an evaluation of the pandemic risks as low by the media and therefore the tools of othering and blame were not used until after the study period when the actual risks had begun to abate, more consistent with an inquiry than a mediating mechanism.

COVID-19 Pandemia: Neuropsychiatric Comorbidity and Consequences.

Infection with the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) was first registered in December 2019 in China, and then later spread rapidly to the rest of the world. On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) informed the public for the first time about causes of pneumonnia of unknown origin, in the city of Wuhan (Hubei Province, China), in people who were epidemiologically linked to a seafood and wet animal whole sale local market in Wuhan. Coronavrus disease, called COVID-19 (Corona virus disease 2019), after China quickly spread to most countries in the wold, and the WHO on March 11, 2020 declared a pandmic with this virus. SARS-CoV-2, has a high level of sequential similarities to the SARS-CoV-1 and uses the same receptors when it enters the human body (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2/ACE2). COVID-19 is respiratry infection that is primarily transmitted via respiratry droplets. Typical symptoms of COVID-19 infection can be very moderate (infected can be even asymptomatic) to very severe, with severe respiratory symptoms (bilateral severe pneumonia), septic schock, and fatal outcome. Numeous unknows regarding the biological, epidemilogical adn clinical characteristics of COVID-19, still exist, and make it impossible to predict with certainty the further course of the current pandemic. COVID-19 is primarily a disease of the respiratory system, but SARS-CoV-2, in a number of patients also penetrates the CNS, and apparently could be responsible for fatal outcome in some cases. The entrry of the virus into the brain can lead to neurological and psychiatric manifestationss, which are not uncommon, including headache, paresthesia, myalgia, impaired consciousnessm, confusion or delirum and cerebrovascular diseases. SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals should be evaluated in a timely manner for neurological and psychiatic symptoms because tretament of infection-related neurological and psychiatric complications is an important factor in better prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients.From the current point of view, it seems that in COVID-19 survivors, in the coming years and decades, the inflammatory systemic process and/or the inflammatory process of the brain could trigger long-term mechanisms that generally lead to an increase of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Psychosocial consequences as well as consequences for mental health are also significant, both for the general population and especially for health workers of all profiles. COVID-19 pandemia is associtaed with negative psychosocial consequences, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, anger and stress, sleep disorders, simpotms of posttrauamtic stres disorder, social isolation, loneliness and stigmatization.

Impact of Nutritional Information on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Meat Products in Traditional Wet Markets of Taiwan

The application of nutritional labels provides information regarding the health and nutritional value of products and allows consumers to engage in healthier dietary habits. However, not all types of retail markets provide full nutrition information for meat products. Since there is no nutritional information for fresh meat products in traditional wet markets, this study aimed to investigate consumer purchasing intention and willingness to pay (WTP) for this nutritional information in Taiwanese traditional wet markets. A total of 1420 valid respondents were examined using the random utility theory to explain consumer purchasing intention and WTP for nutritional information. Results showed that most (over 60%) consumers in traditional wet markets have positive purchasing intent for meat products with the nutrition information provided. Furthermore, the nutrition information in traditional wet markets significantly boosts consumers’ purchasing intention and WTP when consumers have a personal health awareness on meat, have proficient experience in buying meat, and continuously receive information from health-related media. Specifically, consumers’ shopping background and their level of health consciousness would be the key factors that would alter their WTP, if provided nutritional claims.

Diets, Diseases, and Discourse: Lessons from COVID-19 for Trade in Wildlife, Public Health, and Food Systems Reform.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light significant failures and fragilities in our food, health, and market systems. Concomitantly, it has emphasized the urgent need for a critical re-evaluation of many of the policies and practices that have created the conditions in which viral pathogens can spread. However, there are many factors that are complicating this process; among others, the uncertain, rapidly evolving, and often poorly reported science surrounding the virus’ origins has contributed to a politically charged and often rancorous public debate, which is concerning insofar as the proliferation of divisive discourse may hinder efforts to address complex and collective concerns in a mutually cooperative manner. In developing ethical and effective responses to the disproportionate risks associated with certain food production and consumption practices, we argue that the focus should be on mitigating such risks wherever they arise, instead of seeking to ascribe blame to specific countries or cultures. To this end, this article is an effort to inject some nuance into contemporary conversations about COVID-19 and its broader implications, particularly when it comes to trade in wildlife, public health, and food systems reform. If COVID-19 is to represent a turning point towards building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world for both humans and nonhuman animals alike, the kind of fractioning that is currently being exacerbated by the use of loaded terms such as “wet market” must be eschewed in favour of a greater recognition of our fundamental interconnectedness.