The discovery of a major cause in the spread of epidemics

Indiana: A new study conducted in the United States has found that the loss of biological diversity is the biggest environmental cause of the spread of epidemics in the world.

New epidemics are emerging day by day and they often occur in wildlife. In a meta-analysis published in the journal Nature, researchers found that of all the factors driving global change that are destroying ecosystems, species extinctions are driving the greatest increase in the risk of pandemic outbreaks. has been found.

Climate change and the introduction of non-native species came up as major causes on the list after biodiversity loss in research.

Lead researcher Professor Jason Rohr, from the University of Notre Dame, said: “The research shows that biodiversity loss, climate change and the introduction of non-native species have contributed to the increase in disease, while urbanization has It decreased.

In the study, US experts reviewed nearly 1,000 studies on the global environmental causes of the epidemic, covering all continents except Antarctica.

The study looked at the severity and prevalence of disease in plants, animals and humans.

The team of researchers focused on five factors of global change (biodiversity loss, climate change, chemical pollution, non-native species and habitat loss) in the study, which revealed that all factors except habitat loss contribute to disease. caused an increase in proliferation and these results were similar in humans and non-humans.