The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that has dominated the news since early 2020 has something in common with other diseases that have hit the headlines in recent years. SARS-CoV-2, just like Ebola, HIV and MERS before it, originated in wildlife before ‘spilling over’ into humans. SARSCoV-2 currently appears to have originated in horseshoe bats and was potentially transferred to humans via an unknown species, possibly pangolins. But other so-called zoonotic diseases (illnesses that spread from animals to humans, and vice versa) originated in the likes of chimps, camels and mice.
While the existence of zoonotic diseases has been known for decades, the coronavirus pandemic has brought into sharp focus how closely our health is connected to the health of the animal species with which we come into contact. “This pandemic is just a tragic wake-up call,” says epidemiologist Dr Jonna Mazet at the University of California, Davis.
Mazet was principal investigator on the PREDICT project, a $207m (£150m approx) global effort run from the US to build a clearer picture of the viruses lurking in wild animals that could spill over into humans and wreak havoc. From 2009 to 2019, the project’s scientists collected samples of animal blood, saliva and dung from fields and forests in 30 countries. They found 940 virus species that hadn’t been previously identified, including 160 coronaviruses and one new Ebola virus that were previously unknown. But this may just be the tip of the iceberg. “We estimate there are probably about 500,000 viruses that could infect people that have not been characterised or detected by science,” says Mazet. Not all of these would cause disease, but it shows the scale of the problem.
This story is from the May 2021 edition of BBC Focus - Science & Technology.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2021 edition of BBC Focus - Science & Technology.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
5 SIMPLE WAYS TO RECLAIM YOUR ATTENTION
Primed for constant interruptions, your brain is now distracting itself, says science. It's time to break the cycle and retrain your focus
BED BUGS VS THE WORLD
When bloodthirsty bed bugs made headlines for infesting Paris Fashion Week in 2023, it shone a spotlight on a problem that's been making experts itch for decades: the arms race going on between bed bugs and humans. Now, with the 2024 Summer Olympics fast approaching, the stakes are higher than ever
MYSTERIOUS WAVES DETECTED IN JUPITER'S CORE
Scientists hope unusual fluctuations in the gas giant's magnetic field might reveal what's inside
NEW STUDY SUGGESTS SMOKING INCREASES HIDDEN BELLY FAT
A large-scale statistical study reveals yet another reason to quit the habit
NEW ERA FOR BLACK HOLE RESEARCH OPENED BY NOVEL 'QUANTUM TORNADO'
Lab-based vortex promises new insights into the nature of space-time and gravity
DIGITAL HEALTHCARE: ARE THE MOST IN NEED BEING EXCLUDED?
Tech is being used to make it easier for people to access healthcare services. But it's not working for everyone
WELCOME TO THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
This beautiful language of cosmic vibrations is helping scientists further understand the origins of the Universe
MICROSCOPIC ROBOTS COULD SOON ENTER PATIENTS' LIVERS TO FIGHT CANCER
Researchers are closing in on a novel approach to treat tumours using tiny robots
SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A TINY STAR HIDDEN INSIDE A GIANT SUPERNOVA
The James Webb Space Telescope has helped scientists solve a mystery that's been puzzling them for decades
NEW FASTING-LIKE DIET COULD REVERSE YOUR BIOLOGICAL AGE
A new study suggests that cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet can reduce health risks and signs of immune system ageing