More than 11 million people worldwide have officially contracted the Coronavirus so far, almost 550,000 are linked to Covid-19. While we are still battling this pandemic – and prepare for future ones, scientists believe it’s wise to trace back the steps the virus has been taking. Coronavirus has made us re-examine our relationship with animals. The virus originated in a species that was not our own, and it follows many others. Swine flu, bird flu, Ebola and Sars are all what are known as zoonotic diseases.That means they jumped from animals to humans. Scientists hope to catch any potential new ones before they make that leap. In China, researchers have discovered a new version of the swine-flu. It belongs to the H1N1 virus type – which in 2009 kicked off a pandemic that killed more than 18.000 people. Scientists warn that the recently discovered version also has all the characteristics to also pose a threat to humans. So what can we do to prevent another worldwide outbreak spreading from the animal kingdom to us?
How to prevent the next zoonotic pandemic? | COVID-19 Special
