Page 9 - Seniors Today -April20
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In 2008, a team of researchers identified to evolve, which at some point could pose
335 diseases that emerged between 1960 a threat to humans. While the risk of
and 2004, at least 60% of which came pathogens jumping from animals to humans
from animals. These zoonotic diseases are has always been there, some, like rabies and
linked to environmental change and human plague, crossed from animals centuries ago.
behaviour. The disruption of pristine forests
driven by logging, mining, road building Landscape changes
through remote places, rapid urbanisation The difference between now and a few
and population growth is bringing people decades ago, is that diseases are likely
into closer contact with animal species they to spring up in both urban and natural
Major landscape changes cause animals to lose habitats, creating the conditions for the spread of diseases
may never have been near before. environments. But we have created densely
The resulting transmission of disease from packed populations where alongside us are
wildlife to humans is a hidden cost of human bats and rodents and birds, pets and other
economic development. There are just so living things. This creates intense interaction
many more of us, in every environment. and opportunities for pathogens to move
We are going into largely undisturbed from species to species.
places and being exposed more and more. For all we know the coronavirus outbreak
We are creating habitats where viruses are is only the tip of the iceberg. There could
transmitted more easily, and then we are be zillions of pathogens that are yet to be
surprised that we have new ones. discovered. By reducing the natural barriers
Simpler systems get an amplification effect between human and host animals – in which
– we tear down landscapes and the species the virus is naturally circulating – we are
in degraded habitats are likely to carry more creating the conditions for the spread of
viruses which infect humans. There are diseases ourselves. Wildlife everywhere
countless pathogens out there continuing is being put under more stress. Major
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #10 | APRIL 2020 9
