Mexico: stopping the next pandemic

The whole world was hit by Covid-19. Now scientists are working hard to prevent the next pandemic. In Mexico, French and Mexican scientists are looking into 'zoonoses'. These are diseases which jump from animals to humans.

The experts are interested in how this happens. How does a disease move from an animal like a bat or rat or bird to a human?

Rosa Elena Sarmiento's a Mexican university expert at UNAM.

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 team's concentrating on Mexico's Yucatan jungle, where many trees are being cut down. At the same time, tourism's increasing, so humans and animals are living close together.

The animal population has at least 500,000 viruses, which could transfer to humans. So the team takes local people's blood to check for animal viruses.

Audrey Arnal's part of the project.

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 works closely with local communities to learn about their situation and problems. It can then advise people how to live safely with nature.

The goal is to stop dangerous zoonoses developing. And that could prevent another pandemic.

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