"Pathogens have to have an opportunity to get to us, and that usually means proximity—we have to be close to another species. We are close to animals in our day-to-day life all the time, much more than we think we are."
"Wildlife trade changes that equation. You are talking about people handling animals, butchering them, and selling them, which increases the likelihood of disease transmission."
The wildlife trade is a global issue, not limited to wet markets in Asia. New research indicates that pathogens are spreading through this trade network more quickly than previously understood. Proximity to animals increases the risk of disease emergence, as humans frequently interact with wildlife, often indirectly. However, the wildlife trade alters this dynamic by increasing direct contact with animals, thereby enhancing the potential for zoonotic diseases to emerge and spread among human populations.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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