This week, a team of scientists led by the University of Washington published a comprehensive report that has uncovered the zoonotic disease threats with the potential to cause future global epidemics. Zoonotic diseases, or diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, can cause severe illness and even death. The report highlights the need for increased surveillance, improved disease detection, and better vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of these diseases spreading further. The team identified 47 zoonotic diseases that pose the greatest risk, ranging from diseases like influenza and HIV to the more recently discovered coronavirus. As Dr. Jessica Metcalf, one of the authors of the report, states, “it is crucial that we take steps to prevent and prepare for the emergence of zoonotic diseases.” In order to do so, the team has called for the development of better global surveillance systems and improved biosecurity measures.

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source: Phys.org