In a new report released on Monday 30 March, the NGO WWF highlights the link between the emergence of pandemics, such as Covid-19, and human impact on ecosystems and wildlife.
Although the exact origin of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is not yet known, it seems that this virus is one of the 'zoonoses', i.e. diseases transmitted from animals to humans, such as the Ebola virus, HIV or avian influenza.
The destruction of habitats and biodiversity disrupts the ecological balance that limits the micro-organisms responsible for certain diseases, points out WWF.
“Furthermore, artificial habitats or degraded natural areas with high human density can increasingly facilitate the spread of pathogenic agents”, adds the NGO.
Deforestation and unbridled urbanisation thus create favourable conditions for the spread of 'zoonoses' by allowing pathogens of animal origin to reach humans and spread rapidly.
In particular, the NGO stresses the role of the trade in wild animals in the transmission of 'zoonoses' - one of the main avenues of investigation into the origin of the current pandemic - while pointing out that 75% of known human diseases are of animal origin and 60% of emerging diseases are transmitted by wild animals.
In conclusion, the WWF believes that a scenario of going back to the old ways and pretending nothing has happened, in order to revive the economy after this crisis “is not an option if we want to avoid new pandemics in future”.
To consult the report (in English): https://bit.ly/3btk9rs (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)