There may be as many as 850,000 yet-undiscovered viruses in birds and mammals that could one day infect humans, scientists have warned. Only this approach, the experts said, will allow us to 'escape the era of pandemics'. The latter has increased contact between wildlife, livestock and people — and 'has led to almost all pandemics', the report noted. Recommended measures include taxes on meat and livestock production, curbing the wildlife trade around high-rick species and better conservation efforts. Better law enforcement to tackle the illegal wildlife trade and reducing or removing high disease-risk species from legal trade could also help, it added.

Source: Daily Mail October 29, 2020 18:01 UTC