Two coronavirus cases confirmed in UK

So something isn't important so long as it doesn't affect you directly?
No to the former, yes the latter.

The H1N1 virus started in pigs (pork). Salmonella can be found in chickens. Dogs can develop rabies. Your argument that ‘Ebola started in bats’ is essentially invalid unless we account for every single disease spread by every single animal. Though you do not have to agree with eating bats (neither do I), you should at least respect the culture.

The H1N1 virus started in pigs (pork). Salmonella can be found in chickens. Dogs can develop rabies. Your argument that ‘Ebola started in bats’ is essentially invalid unless we account for every single disease spread by every single animal. Though you do not have to agree with eating bats (neither do I), you should at least respect the culture.

It’s not ‘the culture’. Most Chinese including myself don’t approve of it. I guess you can say selling warm meat is, but that’s a topic for another time.

Well honestly I would argue that anything to do with food is a “culture” thing, but if you disagree that’s fine. Nevertheless, I do agree with you that I wouldn’t ever eat bats, but we shouldn’t necessarily hate on people who do. Calling it “disgusting” was what I felt was out of line, and what inclined me to reply in the first place. It’s not disgusting just because it’s different than what we’re accustomed to.

The problem is the way the meat is cooked, if chicken isn’t cooked properly you can get salmonella. Bats have very unusual immune systems which enables them to carry many diseases such as Ebola, SARS and now seemingly this new virus so they are certainly not ideal for consumption, especially after SARS you’d think people would be more careful as to either not consume them or properly prepare them as to kill any infection.


The bat soup thing basically involved an entire bat, however this isn’t likely what started the outbreak. It began spreading at the wet market which runs due to demand of certain animals seen as delicacy (snakes, baby wolves etc) which was also how the SARS epidemic began. Wet markets are incredibly unhygienic and are perfect areas for viruses to spread since domestic and wild animals, dead and alive, are kept together in unsanitary conditions. I do not agree with nor respect this, and it is not really Chinese culture as I think most citizens do not eat or treat animals as stereotypes suggest.

Personally I just think something to be considered a culture it has to be mainstream behaviour of a particular ethno-cultural group.

Well honestly I would argue that anything to do with food is a “culture” thing, but if you disagree that’s fine. Nevertheless, I do agree with you that I wouldn’t ever eat bats, but we shouldn’t necessarily hate on people who do. Calling it “disgusting” was what I felt was out of line, and what inclined me to reply in the first place. It’s not disgusting just because it’s different than what we’re accustomed to.

Yes and I definitely agree with you that it being unhygienic is a problem. I am saying that a multitude of diseases are known to have come from animals. Im a medical student and I can name so many diseases that we can develop by eating animals. It just doesn’t make sense to call out people for eating bats (which I agree is known to cause diseases) but not some other animals that can too carry diseases. I’m not trying to argue and i def agree that’s wet markets didn’t help the spread of the disease, but again, there are wet markets everywhere and I just want people to know that there are more countries than just China that have these markets ) it’s bad, but it’s definitely not something that only China should be criticized for.

If they were properly checked and certified fit for human consumption it wouldn't be such an issue, but in areas with little to no regulation on meat sales there will always be issues.

Personally I wouldn't mind eating bat provided that it was certified safe.

And in the UK we eat dried pigs blood and sheep heart, brains and other organs chopped up and cooked in its own stomach.
So you really don't have an argument in my eyes.

Well there’s definitely mass hysteria about it in China as it conjures up images of the deadly SARS epidemic

You never know whether there's a cover up on the Chinese side. Ever since SARS I think most people highly distrust the Chinese government in providing accurate information about the virus. It's slightly better this time but it's not ideal. Only after Winnie the Pooh said they have to put people's health first did the cases increase twofold overnight. There have been rumours that the Chinese are controlling the increase in case numbers by controlling the number of test kits they distribute.

If I had half of the passion you had for conspiracy theories which pose no tangible benefit to the Chinese government for my degree i'd be writing the course.

I know it’s not only China which have these markets, which is why people are asking for a complete ban on them everywhere, this is the second time since 2002* it’s caused a major (even worse this time) epidemic in the same country. But bats are worse due to the amount of diseases they’re capable of carrying without it really harming them. Other animals that are consumed are generally cooked well enough to stop disease.

* also there were cases of the bird flu due to live poultry markets during this time, also in China.

I will not criticise China as a country as I believe the government did make these markets illegal and those deciding to eat bats are certainly a minority, but bats are just known for spreading disease due to their immune systems so I believe eating them is more irresponsible than other animals, especially if the meat isn’t prepared properly. Though the wet markets are certainly the worst thing (unhygienic and also rather cruel) and the main problem I believe.

I just hope for a global ban on wet markets before this happens again.