How to Stop the Next Pandemic? Stop Deforestation

Physician Neil Vora explores the direct link between environmental devastation, particularly deforestation, and deadly epidemics like Ebola.

He suggests that to prevent future pandemics, we need to shift our focus from preparing for outbreaks to preventing them and preserving our ecological balance.

Reactive Approach to Public Health

Our current approach towards public health is reactive rather than preventive.

We often act as if outbreaks are inevitable and focus on preparation instead of prevention.

This approach is flawed as it overlooks the root causes of such outbreaks.

In West Africa, it may have taken just one infected animal to spark an Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people. But it will take everyone to sustain the delicate ecological balance that we all depend upon. – Neil Vora

Mechanism of Disease Transmission

Deforestation leads to disease transmission through multiple ways.

Survival of certain animals in deforested areas often carry germs that can infect humans.

When people move into these areas, they come into closer contact with wildlife which increases chances for germ transmission.

Additionally, stressed animals due to habitat loss are more likely to spread disease.