Researchers from Cornell University and the Wildlife Conservation Society have announced a new approach to preventing future pandemics: coexisting peacefully with bats. Their research is “The Lancet’s Planetary Health” They insist on not bothering bats, which are often blamed for being potential vectors of disease. Bats carry a number of viruses, including one closely related to COVID-19, but disrupting bats through culling and habitat destruction will prevent animal-borne viruses like Disease X. This actually increases the risk of zoonotic disease spillover, where pathogens jump to humans, the study claims.
Explanation: What is disease X that could cause the next pandemic?
The researchers suggest that Protecting bat habitat and minimizing human intervention can greatly reduce the likelihood of future pandemics. This paradigm shift toward peaceful coexistence with bats could provide an important strategy to protect public health.
The World Health Organization recently warned that the outbreak of the next pandemic, dubbed “Disease X,” is inevitable and only a matter of time.
“In a globalized world of 8 billion people, we can no longer ignore our interconnectedness with the wildlife and ecosystems around us. If we want to prevent the next zoonotic pandemic, , humanity’s relationship with nature must change, and it can start with bats.” Dr. Susan Lieberman saysVice President of International Policy at WCS.
Simply put, humanity must change its broken relationship with nature, especially wild animals and bats. The cost of achieving the human behavioral changes we need will be miniscule compared to the cost of another potentially even more devastating global pandemic.
“Enabling humans to work together globally will underpin most existential challenges we face, from climate change and pollution to biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse. “But at a time when enthusiastic collaboration, even at the local scale, often seems elusive,” said Cornell, professor of wildlife health and health policy Stephen A. Osofsky, lead author of the study. “But if we actually stopped hunting, eating and trading bats, stayed away from bat caves, moved livestock away from areas where bats were densely populated, and reduced the deforestation and degradation of bats’ natural habitat. If we can stop it (or start a recovery), there is no doubt that we will reduce the likelihood of another pandemic.”
