Nagaland Bans Hunting to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus

Kohima, February 12, 2020:

The state of Nagaland has officially banned the practice of hunting to prevent the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus that has killed over 1,000 people across the world.

In an order undersigned by Zasekuoli Chusi, the Additional Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, it was stated that since the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the deadly virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and available evidence that the coronavirus and other viruses are transmitted by wild animals, Nagaland should ban the practice of hunting.

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Now, the Government has instructed all the Superintendents of Police, Nagaland, and the District Forest Officers (DFO) to relay the message to all the Village Councils reiterating the ban on the hunting of wild animals in Nagaland.

It may be mentioned here that Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.  Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

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Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

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