The next pandemic threat is likely already making its way through the population right now writes Maureen Miller, PhD. Her research as an infectious disease epidemiologist has found that there is a simple strategy to mitigate emerging outbreaks: proactive, real-time surveillance in settings where animal-to-human disease spillover is most likely to occur.
Miller discusses the viral evolutionary theory which suggests zoonotic disease spillover is not one and done.
Source: The Conversation, June 1, 2021. Link. Includes videos. Global health professionals have long known that pandemics fueled by zoonotic disease spillover, or animal-to-human disease transmission, were a problem says Miller. Clinical prevention strategies rely on infected individuals coming to sentinel hospitals and medical authorities who are influential and persistent enough to raise the alarm.
INSIGHTS: Animal health pros especially must remain diligent and realize the bigger role of reporting aberrant experiences that may represent risk within species or zoonotic spillover potential. It’s the collective information that has and will make a difference.