Written by: Patrick Novak, Staff Writer
EUTHANIZATION: The Hong Kong government orders the death of hamsters in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Hong Kong is killing hamsters over the discovery of them potentially giving humans Covid-19. So far, over 2,000 hamsters have been killed by the Hong Kong government and there is no sign of them stopping. This hamster culling is an extreme example of strict Covid-19 guidelines gone too far.
Citizens of Hong Kong have been incredibly vocal in their disapproval of the action the government is taking, which can cause further tension between the people of Hong Kong and their government regarding Covid-19 regulations. Animal lovers across all of Hong Kong are vehemently trying to save as many hamsters as possible. Many people are even hiding other people’s hamsters so they don’t get killed. The tension between the people of Hong Kong and the government over this issue has yet to calm down.
The Lancet medical journal is currently conducting a study to support the suspicion of hamsters transmitting Covid-19 to humans. The research came back showing the theory to be correct, although it has yet to be peer reviewed. Hong Kong has suggested its citizens give hamsters purchased after December 22, 2021 up to “humane dispatch.” Government officials have claimed that the hamsters were killed in a humane way, although the specifics of this operation remain unknown. The conclusion to the research will help decide the future of how Hong Kong handles Coronavirus protocols regarding rodent; if there is definitive proof hamsters are infecting people with Covid-19 there will likely be more action taken to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in relation to hamsters.
It is unclear what the final outcome of this situation will be; although, so far evidence suggests that hamsters may be a new threat regarding the spread of Covid-19. Yet, most of the research isn’t completely finalized. The fate of the hamsters in Hong Kong and how global governments deal with the spread of Coronavirus from animals to humans will likely be heavily influenced by the outcome of this situation.