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Humans and animals are living in closer proximity than ever before. The demands on the livestock industry and the environment in general are intensifying thanks to our ever expanding population. The pandemic is raising questions about these practices, and how they may have contributed to this global crisis.
Indeed, when you examine what it takes for an animal virus to jump to a human, it's quite clear that we're increasing the risk of catching viruses like the coronavirus. Click through the following gallery to see how it all works.
There are millions upon millions of viruses on Earth. Luckily, there are only around 1,000 that are known to infect humans.
New zoonotic diseases can crop up at any moment, just like with COVID-19.
A virus' goal is to infect the cells of its host and replicate.
The virus, also known as the pathogen, essentially hijacks the cell and forces it to infect other cells by continuously replicating.
If it spreads to enough cells, the host will eventually contract the virus.
Many viruses only exist within the habitat where they naturally developed. This habitat could be an environment or a species of animal.
For example, if a virus develops among a group of pigs, the pigs may never show any symptoms or be negatively impacted.
Their immune system can control the infection without killing off the virus. The virus and the pig live in a sort of harmony!
However, if that virus jumps to a new species, they won't have the same immunity as the pig.
Only a very small number of viruses manage to make this jump.
This is because the virus has to pass through numerous barriers before it can infect the new species. It's not easy.
There's a greater chance of this happening when the original carriers of the virus come in regular contact with another species.
For example, a group of pigs on a farm will often interact with the farmers. This gives the virus many opportunities to attempt the jump.
The virus makes its way to the farmer in a number of ways.
This puts farmers and slaughterhouse and zoo employees, for example, at a higher risk of contracting viruses from animals.
Beyond genes, the virus has to make it past the body's immune system.
The human body has many levels of defense against disease. They are killed by stomach acid, mucus, T-cells, and antibodies.
This is a challenge for the virus and it may need to mutate in order to complete its mission.
When a virus mutates, it changes its genetic material. This can change the way it infects the human body.
Some viruses may jump to one human and leave it at that. Others may spread further.
Some may spread so much that they lead to an epidemic or a pandemic, like with COVID-19.
Ironically, viruses do not want to kill their hosts because they also need the host in order to survive.
These zoonotic viruses are so dangerous because a human doesn't have the same antibodies as an animal. The virus is often much more dangerous to the human than it was to the animal.
Another problem is that there are millions of animal viruses, and no way to predict which ones will make the jump to humans.
The massive demands of our growing population are leading to more and more dangerous interactions with animals through mass farming and slaughter, deforestation, urbanization, and climate change.
See also: Civet cats bats and other animals who spread deadly diseases
How do viruses jump from animals to humans?
The dangerous process that leads to the likes of the coronavirus
HEALTH Virus
Humans and animals are living in closer proximity than ever before. The demands on the livestock industry and the environment in general are intensifying thanks to our ever expanding population. The pandemic is raising questions about these practices, and how they may have contributed to this global crisis.
Indeed, when you examine what it takes for an animal virus to jump to a human, it's quite clear that we're increasing the risk of catching viruses like the coronavirus. Click through the following gallery to see how it all works.