Wildlife Trade: Breeding Ground for the Next Pandemic?

From Jakarta's bustling Jatinegara market to Vietnam's national parks, the illicit wildlife trade poses a significant threat to global public health. The article highlights wildlife markets as breeding grounds for disease transmission, with COVID-19 serving as a prime example. Despite China's ban on most wildlife trading, the industry persists underground. Researchers are tracing the movement of viruses through wildlife trade networks and analyzing how human behavior exacerbates risks. For instance, the detection rate of coronaviruses in trafficked pangolins increases along the supply chain in Vietnam; in Indonesia, festive periods see a surge in trade, increasing transmission risks. The article emphasizes the crucial need for in-depth studies of trade networks and human behavior to effectively predict and prevent future pandemics.