January 30, 2023, 7:05 p.m
The corona virus is said to have jumped from animals to humans at a wild animal market. Even if this is the most likely origin of the pandemic for many people, it has happened once more and once more in human history that pathogens spread from animals to humans. HIV, bird flu or the SARS virus are just three recent examples of such zoonoses. And there might be more in the future.
Chickens, bats, cows, monkeys, camels, many animals with which humans have close contact are possible sources. But how and when does such a “skip” occur? The evolutionary biologist Matthias Glaubrecht, for example, explains it with the increased impact of humans on the natural habitats of animals. Directly through our animal husbandry and wildlife hunting, indirectly through the changes in ecosystems and the decline in biodiversity. How might zoonoses be better prevented?
