New research has highlighted the increased risk of illnesses spreading to humans from animals. The report by researchers from New York University and Harvard Law School examined common interactions between humans and animals in 15 countries, including the United States.
The researchers discovered numerous examples where viruses could spread to humans, explaining that while zoonotic illnesses, including monkeypox and smallpox, had always existed, their prevalence was growing as interactions between animals and humans increased with urban expansion, climate shifts and international travel.
In their report, the researchers noted that changes in policy could greatly decrease the risk of illness crossover.
The lead author of the report, Ann Linder, stated that there was too much focus on how the damage caused by pathogens that spread to people from animals could be contained but not enough on preventative policies. Linder, an associate director of policy and research at Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program, explained that there was a need to focus on preventing animal-borne viruses from becoming outbreaks, which are harder to contain.
Over the last four years, Linder and her colleagues have sought out weak areas that heighten the risk of viruses leaping from animals to humans. The researchers observed that in the U.S. alone, bat guano harvesting, live-animal markets, the trade of exotic pets, ferret and guinea pig farming, fox and coyote urine production, fur farming, animal fighting and roadside zoos, among other settings, all posed a risk.
Dr. Ian Lipkin, who isn’t part of the study, explained that this was an issue worldwide not just in the U.S.
In the report, Linder noted that her biggest concern was industries that weren’t regulated or were poorly regulated; she cited the example of the mink industry. The researchers suggest various changes in policy for all countries surveyed, including improving public-health protections across the wildlife trade, wildlife farming and livestock industries.
They also suggest the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, as well as improved monitoring and regulation of animal markets and their supply chains.
In addition, the researchers proposed that known risks be decreased via methods such as pasteurization of milk and its products, avoiding kissing animals, washing hands after touching animals and processing animals carefully. This, they explained, was also important in protecting the animals because they can also contract some diseases from humans. For instance, many pets contracted the coronavirus from their human families. Mercy for Animals, a global nonprofit animal protection organization, supports this approach.
As the alarm is sounded regarding the need to take steps to prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans, some entities such as Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI) are already taking the proactive step of developing immunotherapies against several infectious diseases so that any outbreak that occurs is limited in its impact.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SCNI
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