Researchers called for ‘urgent action’ to address increased risk of spread of disease due to climate change and deforestation

Researchers called for ‘urgent action’ to address increased risk of spread of disease due to climate change and deforestation

Illnesses transmitted from animals to humans could kill 12 times as many people in 2050 than they did in 2020, researchers have warned.

Epidemics caused by zoonotic diseases – also known as spillovers – could be more frequent in the future due to climate change and deforestation, experts from US biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks warned.

They called for “urgent action” to address the large risk to global health caused by such diseases.

  • AutoTL;DRBEnglish
    9•1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Illnesses transmitted from animals to humans could kill 12 times as many people in 2050 than they did in 2020, researchers have warned.

    Epidemics caused by zoonotic diseases – also known as spillovers – could be more frequent in the future due to climate change and deforestation, experts from US biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks warned.

    They called for “urgent action” to address the large risk to global health caused by such diseases.

    The database covered epidemics reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), outbreaks occurring since 1963 that killed 50 or more people and historically significant events including the flu pandemics of 1918 and 1957.

    Researchers also suggested the figures were likely to be an underestimate due to the strict inclusion criteria for the pathogens in the analysis and the exclusion of Covid-19.

    The team added that “urgent action is needed to address a large and growing risk to global health”.

    The original article contains 316 words, the summary contains 151 words. Saved 52%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • @HaagelEnglish
    7•1 year ago

    There’s never been a better time to go vegetarian. The diversity of foods that are easily available these days allow for such variety that a vegetarian is never lacking.

    It seems to me that there’s no need to risk these zoonotic diseases, just because of our old habits of animal consumption.

    • ElcaineVolta
      0•1 year ago

      vegetarians still support the meat industry by purchasing eggs and dairy. if you are concerned about disease, pandemics, the climate, and the rights of human and non-human animals; the lifestyle solution is veganism.

      • uphillbothways
        3•1 year ago

        If you’re gonna go vegan (or even just seriously reduce intake of animal based foods) try to be aware of your B12 intake.
        Plain cheerios and/or marmite on toast (great w peanut butter or avocado. start with very small amounts and build up a taste. it’s like a super concentrated soy sauce flavor.) are easy ways to keep yourself from getting severely deficient without resorting to pills or injections.