Even though there still hasn’t been a definitive answer, scientists have pointed toward animals being the likely source of COVID-19. A theory that it could have been incubated by bats has become more prominent since the initial outbreak.
It wouldn't be a surprising result since scientists estimate that 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.
In order to be effective at pandemic prevention, it is therefore essential to identify and reduce the ways that pathogens most commonly end up spilling over into humans from wildlife. That’s the argument of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition, a group of conservation and health organizations that have put forward the case that destroying nature is endangering humans.
About the author
Helen Lock
Helen Lock is a former associate editor at Devex, responsible for commissioning, editing, and producing content on the partnerships editorial team. She has seven years of experience in journalism as a multimedia content producer for an international advocacy organization and as a reporter and section editor for U.K. national newspapers. As a freelance journalist, she covered cities, tech for good, global development, and education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Manchester and a master’s in Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London.
