Throughout history, major disease outbreaks have started after a virus jumped from animals to humans. The 1918 Spanish flu started in birds. The bubonic plague originated in rats. Bats, for reasons still being explored, account for the majority of these zoonotic diseases—those germs and viruses that can pass from animals to humans, or vice versa. They’ve been linked to Ebola, SARS, and now COVID-19.
The risk of future pandemics arising from zoonotic diseases might be greater than ever, with studies suggesting a steady rise in diseases spreading from animals to humans since the 1940s. Climate change, ballooning populations, and environmental destruction all likely contribute to the chance that disease transmits from any number of species to people. But despite the growing threat, potential cases and sick animals are reported haphazardly, if at all.
To combat the risks, researchers are turning to technology to better track and predict potential zoonotic threats. VetNow, a company…
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Source : fastcompany.com
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