News

UN Warns Of More Animal To Human Viruses

WASHINGTON, July 7 — Further outbreaks will emerge unless governments take active measures to prevent other zoonotic diseases from crossing into the human population, reported Anadolu Agency based on a UN report Monday.

COVID-19, Ebola, MERS, West Nile, and Rift Valley fever are caused by viruses that have jumped from animal hosts to the human population.

Titled ‘Preventing the Next Pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission,’ the report is a joint effort by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

The report identifies seven trends driving the increasing emergence of zoonotic diseases that are passed to humans from an animal source.

Among them are “increased demand for animal protein; a rise in intense and unsustainable farming; the increased use and exploitation of wildlife; and the climate crisis.”

“The science is clear that if we keep exploiting wildlife and destroying our ecosystems, then we can expect to see a steady stream of these diseases jumping from animals to humans in the years ahead,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.

Noting that pandemics are devastating human lives and countries’ economies, Andersen said the poorest and most vulnerable suffer from them the most.

“To prevent future outbreaks, we must become much more deliberate about protecting our natural environment,” she added.

According to UNEP, every year, some two million people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, die from neglected zoonotic diseases.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 537,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in Wuhan, China in December. The US, Brazil, India, and Russia are currently the worst-hit countries.

More than 11.5 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 6.28 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Sources: BERNAMA

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

Toshiba Turns 95 with a Giant Fridge, Big Vibes & A Spot in the Malaysia Book of Records

Who says anniversaries are just cake and candles? For Toshiba’s 95th Anniversary Dealer Convention, it… Read More

20 hours ago

Resorts World Sentosa’s Singapore Oceanarium Introduces New Experiences As Ticket Sales Go Live

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS, 圣淘沙名胜世界) has announced that ticket sales have launched for Singapore Oceanarium… Read More

20 hours ago

Barista Brews at Prices You Won’t Believe Exist

Think handcrafted coffee always comes with a hefty price tag? Think again. Across Malaysia, cafés… Read More

20 hours ago

POCO Introduces POCO F7: Where Futuristic Design Meets Exceptional Power

POCO, a leading technology brand among young tech enthusiasts, today unveiled POCO F7, setting a… Read More

20 hours ago

Proton Owners Hit the Road for Wellness: AG Autoworld x Herbal Farmer Flag Off First-Ever Fun Drive in Johor

What do you get when you mix wellness, good vibes, and 30 Proton cars? A… Read More

21 hours ago

OMSMC Earns Spot in Newsweek’s Global Hospital Rating 2025

Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre (OMSMC) has been listed in Newsweek’s Global Hospital Rating 2025,… Read More

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.