Preventing a repeat pandemic - 26th May 2023

As the world recovers from Covid-19, scientists are worrying about the next global pandemic. French and Mexican scientists in Mexico are researching 'zoonoses' - diseases which are transmitted from animals to humans.

Covid-19 was thought to start with bats, and these have been one area of research. However, the research has included other mammals like rats, as well as birds. The experts hope to discover how the diseases jump to people.

Researcher Rosa Elena Sarmiento works at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Rosa Elena Sarmiento: "So what this project aims to do is to have this knowledge in order to be able to predict future pandemics if possible, which is what has just happened to us recently, with the knowledge of which viruses are circulating, so that we can give a risk map of these areas and put the red lights where they should be."

The research project is based in an area of the Yucatan jungle, Mexico. It's a region that's losing thousands of trees due to farming and tourism, which has brought humans and animals closer together.

The animal population's storing 500,000-800,000 viruses, which might be dangerous to humans. The team makes sure local people's blood is checked for viruses.

Audrey Arnal, from the research team, explains the importance.

Audrey Arnal: "If there are viruses that are also in the wild and in the human population, we know that in these viruses we have to develop surveillance and prevention strategies because a slightly more virulent strain can develop and then an epidemic can occur."

The project runs short courses with the local communities to find out what their issues are. It also encourages people to live safely, side by side with nature.

Its main aim is to work out how to avoid the problem of zoonoses, to prevent another pandemic.