But hasn't it always been like this? Ive been to China several times and seen these markets. Its been like that for a long time.It wasn't one bat that somebody ate. It was meat from a 'wet market' - where wild animals are kept in disgusting conditions in cages stacked on top of each other.
The bats had been crammed into a cage with other animal cages stacked on top of them, they were then covered in faeces, blood and various other fluids from other animals. This caused a perfect storm for the virus to breed.
Check out this youtube video for a better explanation. Beware: Those 'wet markets' are fecking disgusting.