Habitats’ destruction to blame for spread of virus, says study

Diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe could become more common as human activity destroys habitats and forces disease-carrying wild animals into ever-closer proximity with us, a major study showed on Wednesday.

Illegal poaching, mechanised farming and increasingly urbanised lifestyles have all led to mass biodiversity loss in recent decades, devastating populations of wild animals and increasing the abundance of domesticated livestock.

Around 70 per cent of human pathogens are zoonotic, meaning they at some point make the leap from animals to humans as with COVID-19.

Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), prepare to transport a gravely ill patient with COVID-19 symptoms in New York. AFP

US-based researchers looked at more than 140 viruses known to have been transmitted from animals to humans, and cross-referenced them with the IUCN’s Red List of endangered species.

They found that domesticated animals, primates, bats and rats carried the most zoonotic viruses — around 75 per cent.

But they also concluded that the risk of spillover from animal to human populations was highest when a species is threatened by over-consumption and habitat loss.

“Our data highlight how exploitation of wildlife and destruction of natural habitat in particular, underlie disease spillover events, putting us at risk for emerging infectious diseases,” said Christine Johnson, from the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine, lead author of the research.

Workers wear sanitary masks to protect against coronavirus as they work in a greenhouse of the Saracino Flower Farm, in Aprilia, near Rome. AP

Last year the United Nations panel on biodiversity warned that up to one million species faced extinction as a result of human activity.

The landmark assessment showed that 75 per cent of land and 40 per cent of oceans on Earth have already been severely degraded by mankind

Deforestation, in particular, is placing increasing pressure on wild mammals, which struggle to adapt to dwindling habitats.

And as we encroach further on their territory, wild animals are being forced into increasing contact with humans, heightening the risk of another COVID-19.

“We alter the landscape through deforestation, conversion of land for growing crops or raising livestock, or building up communities,” Johnson told AFP.

A graffiti depicting the importance of face masks, part of a COVID-19 awareness-raising campaign, is pictured with the arabic hashtag 'Stay aware' on a wall in Khartoum. AFP

“This also increases the frequency and intensity of contact between humans and wildlife — creating the perfect conditions for virus spillover.”

Scientists are still trying to pin down the species that passed COVID-19 to humans — suspects include bats and pangolins, both considered delicacies in China, where the outbreak emerged.

Conservationists have called for a global ban on wildlife trading in the wake of the pandemic and China has prohibited the consumption of wild animals.

A Palestinian baker puts the final touches on coronavirus-themed cakes at his bakery in Khan Yunis. AFP

Greenpeace on Wednesday urged the European Union to push for a worldwide ban “in order to protect public health and biodiversity across the globe.” But COVID-19 has also seen crucial UN biodiversity talks postponed and several indigenous groups are reporting greater encroachment from illegal miners and poachers into tropical forests.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, also showed the prevalence of zoonotic disease in animals that are mass-produced for agriculture.

“Once we move past this public health emergency, we hope policy makers can focus on pandemic preparedness and prevention of zoonotic disease risk, especially when developing environmental, land management, and animal resource policies,” said Johnson.