Rapid deforestation and declining biodiversity could lead to new deadly pandemics.
According to Gadin.Net, citing publika.az, British scientists have come to this conclusion after long research.
According to them, the rapid destruction of forests, the uncontrolled expansion of agricultural lands, the construction of mines in remote areas, the exploitation of wild animals as food, traditional medicine or exotic pets play the role of a "perfect storm" for the direct transmission of diseases from wildlife to humans.
Scientists claim that almost two-thirds of the diseases are caused by changes in the use of land. As a result, five to six new pandemics may occur every year, which will affect the world's population.
In addition, where trees are cut down, vacant plots of land around old forests around fields increase the connection between wildlife and domestic animals. Bats, rodents and other pests carrying strange new viruses come to the villages from forest remnants, infecting animals and transmitting them to humans.