Thread by @ParveenKaswan

Must read today: #Ecology of #Disease.

Sixty percent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, originated in animals & more than 2/3 of those originate in wildlife.

In last 4 decades all major viruses are result of Human encroachment in wild areas.

nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sun…

The Nipah virus in South Asia & Hendra virus in Australia originated from fruit bats.

AIDS, for example, crossed into humans from chimpanzees in the 1920s when bush-meat hunters in Africa killed and butchered them.

Disease, it turns out, is largely an #environmental issue.

"Diseases have always come out of the woods and wildlife & found their way into human populations — the plague and malaria are another examples."

When we break the ecosystem, say an intact tropical forests, by removing something we remove the protective link also.

And here is an example from #India how a zoonotic disease called as Kyasanur Forest Disease was dealt in 1950s by all types of collaboration. Making a strong case for more integrated & cross border research in the field. Do read. @abi_vanak

thehindu.com/sci-tech/scien…

We know bats are host to many virus including nipah, ebola etc. There are enough bio geographical evidences collected by researchers which says that loss of close forests has resulted in spread of ebola in Africa. Direct link with deforestation. One such;

cifor.org/library/6636/

In simple words loss of Ecosystem, Species & Genetic
biodiversity can cause many such issues. The ecosystems are evolving from long, with checks & balances. Removal of something unchecked remove the balance as well as safety net. Less linkages make system unhealthy.