Chinese officials have identified a food market in Wuhan – a city of 11 million people, which is now under quarantine – as the epicentre of the deadly virus which has claimed 25 victims in China and has since spread to countries such as Singapore and Vietnam.

Apart from offering a variety of exotic wildlife, ranging from crocodiles to wolf puppies, the now-shuttered Wuhan Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market also sold species linked to previous pandemics, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

“China’s appetite for wild meat is the source of many recent deadly animal-borne diseases,” said Kadir in a Facebook post.

“The year of the rat sees China exporting the coronavirus flu.

“China’s eating binge could be the beginning of the end of the human race,” said the veteran newsman, adding that China must hold itself accountable.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) held an emergency meeting yesterday which, while short of declaring a global public health emergency, said the coronavirus was “an emergency in China”.

Thailand has confirmed four cases of the virus, Vietnam has reported two cases while the US, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore have all reported one case each.

Wisma Putra yesterday advised Malaysians to postpone all non-essential travel to Wuhan and other areas that could be affected by the coronavirus.