Why new diseases keep appearing in China. (1 Viewer)

[Da Guru]

This is an interesting video about the "wet market" trade in China. 

I have been to China for work in the past and seen some things in markets that most people from western countries would be appalled by.  A local took me to one of these markets over 10 years ago.  That was the last time I was in China.   I would never go back.

 

[Kal El]

I would imagine population density also plays a role. Stuff gets passed around really easily in major cities.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I would imagine population density also plays a role.

Population density almost certainly plays a role, but just straight up population probably plays a bigger one. China's got like a quarter of the world's population, so it should generate about a quarter of the novel diseases if it is average in every other way.

 

[Joe Summer]

Maurile posted that video in one of the other threads. It's very fascinating.

There are hundreds of "wet" markets throughout the world, some even in the USA. It seems like the major differences with Wuhan is 1) no regulation, and 2) mixing livestock with wild animals (including several species which have almost no history of human consumption).

 

[Da Guru]

Maurile posted that video in one of the other threads. It's very fascinating.

There are hundreds of "wet" markets throughout the world, some even in the USA. It seems like the major differences with Wuhan is 1) no regulation, and 2) mixing livestock with wild animals (including several species which have almost no history of human consumption).

Sorry it is hard to keep up.

Population density and no regulation is a recipe for disaster.  After what I saw a decade ago when I was there it was difficult to even eat for a few days.  I was sticking pretty much to vegetables for awhile.

 

[Kal El]

Population density almost certainly plays a role, but just straight up population probably plays a bigger one. China's got like a quarter of the world's population, so it should generate about a quarter of the novel diseases if it is average in every other way.

That's a great point. I wonder how much local climate comes into play, since just south of China, and maybe in the nation proper, there are some tropical forests that may contain exotic lifeforms and subsequent diseases.

 

[wikkidpissah]

160 cities of over a million people, most of them accidental in origin and administration

ETA: US has 10

 

[Mister CIA]

160 cities of over a million people, most of them accidental in origin and administration

ETA: US has 10

Peter Principle ?

 

[parasaurolophus]

Guess i wont get to have a bpt(bat, pangolin, and tomato) sandwich anytime soon. 

 

[dgreen]

160 cities of over a million people, most of them accidental in origin and administration

ETA: US has 10

Not sure you are comparing apples to apples. I think those cities  in China are more equivalent to our metro areas. The US has over 50 metro areas over 1 million. Doesn’t necessarily change how amazing it is that China has 160, but just pointing out the difference.