New report finds clear trend of viruses jumping from animals to humans

Experts say there is a clear upward trend in the number of viruses moving from animals to humans, and further outbreaks are likely if no action is taken.

Một người bán thịt dơi tại chợ Tomohon ở bắc Sulawesi, Indonesia. Source: Bay Ismoyo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The world has witnessed a rise in diseases caused by viruses that have jumped from animal hosts to the human population, with COVID-19 just one example, experts have said in a new report.

Ebola and MERS, as well as the West Nile and Rift Valley fevers, were other examples of zoonotic diseases that are being driven by the degradation of our natural environment, the UN Environment Department (UNEP) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) said.

"While many in the world were surprised by COVID-19, those of us who work on animal disease were not," lead author of the report Delia Randolph said.

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