Climate change may be one of the ones responsible for the emergence of health. A study published in the journal Nature points out that more than 15,000 viruses will spread and cross species in the next 50 years. For experts, global warming can endanger animal life and human health because it is a driving factor for zoonosis.

This is because climate change forces the migration of animals to new habitats. As they move to survive, these animals carry with them their diseases and parasites. In turn, they come into contact with new hosts. 

The transmission of viruses and diseases from one species to another increases the risk of contagion between animals and humans. This process can be called zoonose swaying, an event well known for being responsible for the emergence of pandemies, as Covid-19.

Biodiversity and deforestation

Another study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, has already pointed out that zoonoses are more common in deforestation areas and monoculture plantations. That is, as the biodiversity of the site decreases, the probability of epidemics in the region only increases. 

When an ecosystem is healthy, it is because it is full of species native to the region, which favor ecosystem balance – with the presence of predators and prey that keep populations stable. After the forest is deforested to make way for planting palm oil, soybeans or other monoculture, the common species of the site stop thriving. 

The study, published by Frontiers, points out that between 1990 and 2016, as plantations expanded rapidly, forest cover decreased at the same rate. With the depredation of biodiversity, animals flee to cities or other habitats.

As a consequence of this sudden change, they come to live with species that are not in their day to day. They're not used to the same viruses and pathogens. This generates an explosion of epidemics that can wipe out various groups of animals, including humans.

Future of the Earth

For this reason, scientists believe that the next years of earthly life will not only be the hottest, but also the "sickest". After all, the researchers point out that at least 10,000 types of viruses, capable of infecting humans, are circulating in wildlife populations. 

According to the Nature article, about 3,139 mammals will have to withdraw from their natural habitat due to climate change or land use change by 2070. In addition, the data indicate that even with a relatively low temperature increase, there will be at least 15,000 transmissions between species by this period.

Prevention of health

In fact, it is believed that this ecological transition and spread of zoonoses is already happening now. After all, there are several ecosystems that are not being monitored, and have been lost to deforestation and burning. 

The study points out the need to create ways to prevent the emergence of zika sandalikes such as coronavirus. It is not only necessary to create medicines, tests and vaccines, but to prevent the spread of diseases between different species. 

This must be fought for the preservation of animal habitat, strict regulation of wildlife exchange, improved biosecurity, significant reduction of land temperature and greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. These are just a few examples of what can be done to preserve nature's biodiversity and prevent humanity's future from being fraught with pandemias. 

Source: eCycle