"A new study published today in Science reveals a close correlation between species in the wildlife trade and animals that are known to have passed pathogens on to humans. There's a strong link, says Jerome Gippet, an ecologist at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland."
"The team's analysis revealed that among 2,079 traded mammal species, 41 percent shared at least one transmissible pathogen with humans. For comparison, just 6.4 percent of nontraded animals shared such a pathogen."
"What we could calculate is that, for every 10 years that the species is on the wildlife market, it shares one additional pathogen with humans."
"The study highlights the need for better disease surveillance and outbreak preparation, however, Gippet says."
The wildlife trade involves various activities, including pet sales and meat markets, affecting 25 percent of mammal species. A study reveals a strong correlation between traded species and zoonotic diseases. For every 10 years a species is in the wildlife market, it shares one additional pathogen with humans. Among 2,079 traded mammal species, 41 percent share transmissible pathogens with humans, compared to 6.4 percent of nontraded animals. The findings emphasize the need for improved disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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