There is a growing global concern around China's "wet markets." Last week, Dr. Fauci was on the record saying that they need to be shut down immediately and that it boggles his mind that we continue to allow something which very clearly results in zoonotic viral infections. This is as China begins to slowly reopen its economy -- including its wet markets.

The more precise problem is China's meat supply chain. Last month, Bain & Company published a brief arguing that this current pandemic -- it was still just an outbreak at the time of publication -- highlights the need for China to shift away from open-air markets toward the cold-chain model that is common in North America and Europe.

Here is one of their charts comparing China and Europe:

Many of you have probably visited or seen videos of the Maeklong Railway Market in Bangkok. (I've done the latter, not the former.) It is one of the largest seafood markets in Thailand and it is literally housed on the railway's tracks. Every time a train passes through, the entire market needs to be pulled up and relocated. Even the awnings that cover the market need to be collapsed. The videos I've seen have all been taken from grade. But the below video (via Vala Afshar on Twitter), showing the market in plan view (from what was likely a drone), is arguably even more impactful. There isn't a foot of wasted space.

There is a growing global concern around China's "wet markets." Last week, Dr. Fauci was on the record saying that they need to be shut down immediately and that it boggles his mind that we continue to allow something which very clearly results in zoonotic viral infections. This is as China begins to slowly reopen its economy -- including its wet markets.

The more precise problem is China's meat supply chain. Last month, Bain & Company published a brief arguing that this current pandemic -- it was still just an outbreak at the time of publication -- highlights the need for China to shift away from open-air markets toward the cold-chain model that is common in North America and Europe.

Here is one of their charts comparing China and Europe:

Many of you have probably visited or seen videos of the Maeklong Railway Market in Bangkok. (I've done the latter, not the former.) It is one of the largest seafood markets in Thailand and it is literally housed on the railway's tracks. Every time a train passes through, the entire market needs to be pulled up and relocated. Even the awnings that cover the market need to be collapsed. The videos I've seen have all been taken from grade. But the below video (via Vala Afshar on Twitter), showing the market in plan view (from what was likely a drone), is arguably even more impactful. There isn't a foot of wasted space.