Why do so many viruses originate in China?

[ohhkay]

Please explain why SARS, Coronavirus and Swine flu have all started in a similar area.

Is it because the country is very large? Is it due to the large population?

Or is it selection bias?

Many other countries are densely populated with poor living conditions. And wet markets are not solely confined to China.

I'm genuinely curious, not racist.

I've enjoyed reading this thread, it's interesting and informative. I've learned a couple of new things.

Neither is a pig or a lamb or a cow

At least it looks like it has some to snack on that a bat. Have you seen a bat up close?

Because it's massive with lots of people and densely packed cities

just watched a video of somebody eating 'bat soup' and it really is just a whole bat being chewed on with just eyes removed. Rancid.

I agree about lack of sympathy and more finger wagging - hindsight is a great thing! I also suspect it's because there seems to be so much going on and everyone has less reserves.....

I hope it peaks soon and the death rates are low.

Death rates will be low, its about 1% as deadly as flu I read.

I'm genuinely curious, not racist.

If this needs to be said, one should really review what they've just said and reconsider.

They have horrific views on what is acceptable practice when it comes to animals.

@AtomicRabbit Totally agree with you about spitting. I'd welcome a national campaign to stop it, it's a disgusting habit.

You can get Marburg from just coming into contact with bat droppings, it isn't all about eating them!

The worst flu of 1918 that killed 50 million people started in the USA

In fact the seasonal flu we still get now and get vaccines for are a variant of that original 1918 flu

The 1918 Flu pandemic did not start in the USA
Its original name makes that VERY clear
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

As someone of Chinese heritage this stems from the countryside of China where people are poorly educated and dirty yes dirty in the way they live. Animals are not kept in proper conditions . This is not a racist statement merely fact.

Hong Kong has asked that the borders be closed but it has not been done effectively so today the doctors and nurses in HK are going on strike and refusing to treat anyone unless ALL borders into HK are closed

Schools in HK are closed until March . Everything is being done to control and stop the spread from China into HK.

The virus 'bakes' for 15 days so it is not easy to detect.

Its not what is eaten in China that is the problem
it is how it is stored prior to cooking.

Spitting creates a very easy way for human diseases to get into animals.

Food markets selling a mixture of live animals and prepared meats create a very easy route for those diseases to get back into humans.

It is the same the world over

I nearly barfed reading the description of bat soup!.

Maybe this thread should have a trigger warning?

Have they isolated Ozzy?

@ListeningQuietly you can’t believe everything on Wikipedia

The first cases were in USA

From there is spread due to troops being transported to Spain and elsewhere which was why it affected so much of the world when people didn’t otherwise travel a lot

rebel
The first cases were in USA
Not according to the academic sources quoted