Where did covid come from?
Exploitation of nature, the evidence suggests…
There has been endless speculation on the origins of covid, with some suggesting it came from a laboratory. This panel of experts say the evidence supports a zoonotic (from animals) origin with this spill-over from wildlife to people occurring via the wildlife trade.
Wildlife farming, live animal trading and expanding livestock production are all drivers of emerging infectious diseases. In recent years, wildlife trade in Southeast Asia and southern China has been transformed to an industrial scale. The authors say we must employ strategies to reduce the risk of spillover and spread. They call for a One Health approach that aims to sustainably balance the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
Keusch GT, Amuasi JH, Anderson DE et al. 2022. Pandemic origins and a One Health approach to preparedness and prevention: solutions based on SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 119 (42) e2202871119.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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