Five years ago today, USFWS banned 201 species of #salamanders from entering the US to prevent a #chytrid extinction crisis (see here: fws.gov/injuriouswildl…) Unfortunately #frogs can also carry this pathogen & their door remains wide open: nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/0… #WildlifeTrade
As a freelance #WildlifeTrade scientist, my work integrates #science & policy to help reduce potential harm trade may cause. The example above shows the dangers that occur when government laws & policies don't keep up with scientific progress (2/N) @NatGeo #nature #OneHealth 
After @USFWS enacted the 2016 #WildlifeTrade restriction to help keep this deadly fungus out of the US, it was found that frogs can also carry this "#salamander" pathogen. Thus #frogs might be carrying 2 species of #chytrid into the US (see brill.com/view/journals/…) #SciComm (3/N)
For example, millions of Fire-bellied Toads (Bombina orientalis) have been imported to the US in recent years without disease screening. Yet, they're a known potential vector of #salamander #chytrid. People often assume, "If it's legal, then it's ok" #WildlifeTrade #SciComm (4/N)
The problem is that if laws & policies to prevent #wildlife disease outbreaks aren't updated as new discoveries emerge, then disease events become much more likely to severely harm #animals, the #environment & #publichealth: nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/0… #WildlifeTrade #OneHealth (5/N)
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